company English · revision 1789

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1150|origins=la-lat compāniō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈkʌm.pə.ni/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|companie]], [[m|enm|compainie]],^(Barnhart 1995)^(AHD)^(MWU 2024) [[bor|xno|compaynie]], Old French [[m|fro|compaignie|t=society, friendship; a body of soldiers]],^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(SOED 2002) from [[m|fro|compain|t=companion]],^(Barnhart 1995)^(MWU 2024)^(Collins 2023) from [[la-lat|compāniō|t=companion, literally bread-fellow, messmate]],^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) from [[m|la|com-|t=with, together]] and [[m|la|pānis|t=bread]].^(Etymonline)^(Skeat 1911)^(Klein 1966) The American Heritage Dictionary and Klein derive the Old French word from [[la-vul|*compānia]].^(AHD)^(Klein 1966) The Shorter Oxford notes the influence of [[it|compagnia]] on the commercial sense and of [[fr|compagnie]] on the military one.^(SOED 2002) Johnson derived it from con- and either [[m|la|pāgus|t=village]] or ''pānis''.^(Johnson 1755) See [[companion]].^(AHD)^(COED 2004)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A large group of people (about 1150 in Barnhart, mid-12th century in Etymonline).^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The sense “companionship, fellowship, society” is recorded from 1275 in Barnhart, late 13th century in Etymonline.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) In Middle English ''company'' could also mean sexual union (about 1300 to the early 17th century).^(Etymonline)^(SOED 2002) A body of soldiers, as a synonym of “army” or “host”, is found before 1300 in ''Kyng Alisaunder'';^(Barnhart 1988) as a subdivision of an infantry regiment it dates from 1590.^(Barnhart 1988)^(HTOED) The word was used of trade guilds from 1303, in Mannyng's ''Handlyng Synne'',^(Barnhart 1988) and developed the commercial sense “business association” by 1553.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(HTOED) The sense “guests, visitors” dates from 1578, “the persons with whom one associates” from about 1600, and ''keep company'' from the 1560s.^(HTOED)^(Etymonline) A ship's crew has been its ''company'' since 1570, and a theatrical company is a later use.^(HTOED)^(AHD) The abbreviation ''Co.'' dates from the 1670s.^(Etymonline) ''Two's company'' is attested from 1849, followed variously by ''three is none'', ''three's trumpery'' (1864) and ''three's a crowd'' (1856).^(Etymonline) In American slang ''the Company'' has meant the Central Intelligence Agency since the 1950s,^(HTOED)^(GDoS) and in South African history the Dutch East India Company.^(DSAE)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1150 – a large group of people.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)

+ * 1275 – companionship, fellowship.^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * before 1300 – a body of soldiers.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * c. 1300 – sexual union (obsolete); ''bear company''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1303 – a trade guild.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1340 – verb, to accompany.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1553 – a business association.^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * 1560s – ''keep company''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1570 – a ship's crew.^(HTOED)

+ * 1578 – guests, visitors.^(HTOED)

+ * 1590 – a subdivision of an infantry regiment.^(Barnhart 1988)^(HTOED)

+ * 1670s – the abbreviation ''Co.''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1849 – ''two's company''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1953 – ''the Company'', the CIA (US slang).^(HTOED)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A commercial business; a [[firm]].^(AHD)^(COED 2004)^(Black's Law 2004)

+ # The fact of being with another or others; [[companionship]]: ''I enjoy her company''.^(AHD)^(COED 2004)^(Collins 2023)

+ # One's companions or associates: ''known by the company she keeps''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # A visitor or visitors; guests: ''expecting company''.^(AHD)^(COED 2004)

+ # A group of people gathered together.^(AHD)^(COED 2004)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A body of soldiers, especially a subdivision of an infantry [[battalion]].^(AHD)^(COED 2004)

+ # A group of actors, singers or dancers who perform together.^(AHD)^(COED 2004)^(Collins 2023)

+ # The officers and crew of a ship.^(MW Collegiate)^(Collins 2023)

+ # The partners in a firm not named in its title, as in ''Smith and Company''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # ''(archaic)'' To accompany, or to associate with.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[companyless]]

+ * [[intercompany]]

+ * [[subcompany]]

+ * [[intracompany]]

+ * [[company man]]

+ * [[company officer]]

+ * [[company store]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[accompany]]

+ * [[companion]]

+ * [[pantry]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Random House calls ''company'' the general word for any group of people associated formally or informally, as against ''band'', a relatively small group with a shared purpose, ''party'' and ''troop''.^(RHWU) The American Heritage Dictionary groups it with ''band'' among words for a group of persons.^(AHD)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}