Word of the Day

: June 20, 2010

compadre

noun kum-PAH-dray

What It Means

: a close friend : buddy

compadre in Context

"I'm now on the Web as a lot of my compadres in journalism are right now." (Miles O'Brien, Senate Hearing (transcript), February 24, 2010)

Did You Know?

In Spanish, a child's father and godfather are, to each other, "compadres" -- that is, "co-fathers." "Compadre" is also a traditional term of reverence and friendship for a man. The equivalent feminine term in Spanish is "comadre." "Compadre" and "comadre" appeared simultaneously in the work that gives us our first known use of "compadre" in English: "'Busy as common, comadre!' said Lopez as he entered, addressing the mother, 'late and early I can find you at work.' 'Yes, compadre,' was the answer." (Albert Pike, "A Mexican Tale," 1834). In English, "compadre" means "friend" and can refer to a person of either sex. "Comadre" continues to appear occasionally in English contexts, but it is not yet well enough established to merit entry in English dictionaries.