Saturday, September 5
companion
kuhm-PAN-yuhn · noun
LatinOld FrenchEnglish
Origin
From Latin com- (together) and panis (bread), by way of Old French compaignon — literally “one who breaks bread with you.”
Journey
The concrete image of a shared meal broadened into the general sense of anyone who accompanies you, with no bread — or food at all — required anymore.
Related words
The same panis gives English pantry (where bread was kept), and, through French, company and accompany.