This weekend we had a great time with our out-of-town visitors, my friend (and fellow WhiteFire author and editor, and critique partner) Dina Sleiman and her husband. So in the spirit of enjoyable company, I thought I’d look at the word. 😉
Sine the mid-12th century, company has meant “a large group of people.” A meaning still in use, but it sounds a little old-fashioned to talk about “being in a company of people.” It’s from the Old French compagnie, which means “society, friendship; body of soldier.” Note that the French carries a military meaning, but that didn’t get applied to the English word until 1580.
Company meaning “companionship,” (i.e. “I’d like some company while I do this”) is from the late 13th century. It adopted the sense of a business association since the 1550s but apparently been used for trade guilds since the 1300s.
So as you can see, it’s an old, well-established word in pretty much all its current meanings. Even the abbreviation “co.” is old, dating from the 1670s.
And so I thank you for your virtual company and hope you all enjoy your week! It’s our first full week of summer break here. School wrapped up on Wednesday, but Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday we had ballet–that’s now over too, so we’re free! Woot!
Roseanna M. White is a bestselling, Christy Award winning author who has long claimed that words are the air she breathes. When not writing fiction, she’s homeschooling her two kids, editing, designing book covers, and pretending her house will clean itself. Roseanna is the author of a slew of historical novels that span several continents and thousands of years. Spies and war and mayhem always seem to find their way into her books…to offset her real life, which is blessedly ordinary.
I never, EVER think about how different meanings for a word are related until I read these posts. LOVE it.
Enjoy your first week of summer break – my kids still have this week of school yet. We're all ready to be done.