different between henchman vs companion

English

Etymology

From Middle English henxman (“page, attendant”), from Old English *hengstmann, *hengestmann (“groom”, literally “horseman”), from hengst, hengest (“stallion, horse, steed, gelding”) (from Proto-Germanic *hangistaz (“stallion”), from Proto-Indo-European *?an?est-, *kankest- (“horse”)) + mann (“man”). Cognate with archaic German Hengstmann (“a groom”), Icelandic hestamaður (“horseman, groom”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?h?nt?.m?n/

Noun

henchman (plural henchmen)

1. A loyal and trusted follower or subordinate.

   Synonyms: see Thesaurus:loyal follower

2. A person who supports a political figure chiefly out of selfish interests.
3. An assistant member of a criminal gang.
4. (obsolete) A page to a prince or other person of high rank.

Translations

English

Etymology

From Middle English companion, from Old French compaignon (“companion”) (modern French compagnon), from Late Latin comp?ni?n- (nominative singular comp?ni?, whence French copain), from com- +? p?nis (literally, with + bread), a word first attested in the Frankish Lex Salica as a calque of a Germanic word, probably Frankish *galaibo, *gahlaib? (“messmate”, literally “with-bread”), from Proto-Germanic *gahlaibô. Compare also Old High German galeipo (“messmate”) and Gothic ???????????????????????????????? (gahlaiba, “messmate”); and, for the semantics, compare Old Armenian ????? (?nker, “friend”, literally “messmate”). More at co-, loaf. Displaced native Old English ?ef?ra.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /k?m?pænj?n/
• Hyphenation: com?pan?ion

Noun

companion (plural companions)

1. A friend, acquaintance, or partner; someone with whom one spends time or accompanies
   • 2017 September 27, David Browne, "Hugh Hefner, 'Playboy' Founder, Dead at 91," Rolling Stone

     For the most part, Hefner's female companions all adhered to the same mold: twentysomething, bosomy and blonde. "Well, I guess I know what I like," he once said when asked about his preferences.

2. (dated) A person employed to accompany or travel with another.
3. (nautical) The framework on the quarterdeck of a sailing ship through which daylight entered the cabins below.
4. (nautical) The covering of a hatchway on an upper deck which leads to the companionway; the stairs themselves.
5. (topology) A knot in whose neighborhood another, specified knot meets every meridian disk.
6. (figuratively) A thing or phenomenon that is closely associated with another thing, phenomenon, or person.
7. (attributive) An appended source of media or information, designed to be used in conjunction with and to enhance the main material.

8. (astronomy) A celestial object that is associated with another.
9. A knight of the lowest rank in certain orders.

10. (obsolete, derogatory) A fellow; a rogue.
    • 1599, William Shakespeare, The Merry Wives of Windsor, III. i. 111:

      and let us knog our / prains together to be revenge on this same scald, scurvy, / cogging companion,

Synonyms

• See also Thesaurus:friend

Derived terms

Related terms

• accompany, accompanying
• company

Translations

Verb

companion (third-person singular simple present companions, present participle companioning, simple past and past participle companioned)

1. (obsolete) To be a companion to; to attend on; to accompany.
   • 1865, John Ruskin, Precious Thoughts

     we had better turn south quickly and compare the elements of education which formed , and of creation which companioned , Salvator .

2. (obsolete) To qualify as a companion; to make equal.

Romanian

Etymology

From French compagnon.

Noun

companion m (plural companioni)

1. companion

Declension