Companion, n.
Etymology: [F. compagnon, OF. compaing, fr. as assumed LL. companio (cf. companium fellowship, a mess), fr. L. com- + panis bread. See Pantry.]
1. One who accompanies or is in company with another for a longer or shorter period, either from choice or casually; one who is much in the company of, or is associated with, another or others; an associate; a comrade; a consort; a partner. The companions of his fall. Milton. The companion of fools shall smart for it. Prov. xiii. 20 (Rev. Ver. ) Here are your sons again; and I must lose Two of the sweetest companions in the world. Shak. A companion is one with whom we share our bread; a messmate. Trench.
2. A knight of the lowest rank in certain orders; as, a companion of the Bath.
3. A fellow; -- in contempt. [Obs.] Shak.
4. Etym: [Cf. OSp. compaña an outhouse, office.] (Naut.) (a) A skylight on an upper deck with frames and sashes of various shapes, to admit light to a cabin or lower deck. (b) A wooden hood or penthouse covering the companion way; a companion hatch. Companion hatch (Naut.), a wooden porch over the entrance or staircase of the cabin. -- Companion ladder (Naut.), the ladder by which officers ascend to, or descend from, the quarter-deck. Totten. -- Companion way (Naut.), a staircase leading to the cabin. -- Knights companions, in certain honorary orders, the members of the lowest grades as distinguished from knights commanders, knights grand cross, and the like.
1 more senses
Syn. -- Associate; comrade; mate; compeer; partner; ally; confederate; coadjutor; accomplice.
1 other Webster entry under this spelling
Companion, v. t.
1. To be a companion to; to attend on; to accompany. [R.] Ruskin.
2. To qualify as a companion; to make equal. [Obs.] Companion me with my mistress. Shak.
Shades of meaning
Fernald has no entry of its own for companion; he lists it under accessory, associate.
Where he writes about it:
Colleague is used always in a good sense, associate and coadjutor generally so; ally, assistant, associate, attendant, companion, helper, either in a good or a bad sense; abetter, accessory, accomplice, confederate, almost always in a bad sense. — from accessory
Companion gives itself with equal readiness to the good or evil sense, as also does comrade. — from associate
One may be a companion in travel who would not readily become an associate at home. — from associate
A lady advertises for a companion; she would not advertise for an associate. — from associate
Comrade expresses more fellowship and good feeling than companion. — from associate