Main Entry:

¹com·pa·ny

Pronunciation:

\ˈkəmp-nē, ˈkəm-pə-\

Function:

noun

Inflected Form(s):

plural com·pa·nies

Usage:

often attributive

Etymology:

Middle English companie, from cumpaignie, from cumpaing companion — more at companion

Date:

13th century

1 a: association with another : fellowship <enjoy a person's company> b: companions, associates <know a person by the company she keeps> c: visitors, guests <having company for dinner>2 a: a group of persons or things <a company of horsemen> b: a body of soldiers ; especially : a unit (as of infantry) consisting usually of a headquarters and two or more platoons c: an organization of performing artists d: the officers and crew of a ship e: a firefighting unit3 a: a chartered commercial organization or medieval trade guild b: an association of persons for carrying on a commercial or industrial enterprise c: those members of a partnership firm whose names do not appear in the firm name <John Doe and Company>