company
UK[ˈkʌmpəni]US[ˈkʌmpəni]
n
A commercial business.
n
The fact or condition of being with another or others, especially in a way that provides friendship and enjoyment.
n
A guest or guests.
n
A group of people gathered together, especially for a particular purpose.
n
A unit of soldiers, typically part of a battalion.
Morpheme Breakdown
com
pan
y
com
together
pan
bread
y
noun suffix
Etymology
The word 'company' has a rich history rooted in social and economic life. It originates from the Late Latin 'companio', literally meaning "one who eats bread with another", formed from 'com-' (together) and 'panis' (bread). This concept of sharing a meal as a fundamental social bond evolved in Old French into 'compaignie', denoting companionship, fellowship, or a group of associates. By the 14th century, English adopted the term, and its meaning expanded from a band of companions to specifically refer to a trading guild or a business association, reflecting how shared economic ventures grew from shared social bonds.
Analysis
Structure: com (together) + pan (bread) + y (noun suffix)
- com: Latin origin, a prefix meaning "together, with".
- pan: Latin origin, from 'panis', meaning "bread".
- y: Old English origin, a noun-forming suffix indicating a state, condition, or entity.
Examples
She works for a large software company.
We really enjoyed your company at dinner last night.
A company of actors performed the play for the local community.