companye

Middle English

Alternative forms

• compaygnie, company, compaignye, companie, cumpaignye, compainie, cumpanye, compaynye, compaignie, cumpany, compeine

Etymology

From Old French compaignie.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /kumpaˈniː(ə)/, /kumpæi̯ˈniː(ə)/

Noun

companye (plural companyes)

1. A company, band, small group, or team of people; mainly in the following senses:
   1. An army or multitude of angels; a band heavenly warriors.
   2. A retinue, one's servants or hirelings.
   3. A troop; a military force or concentration.
   4. A guild; an organisation dedicated to the advancement of a profession.
2. An informal group of people; especially guests or visitors.
3. Accompaniment, company, companionship; having companions.
4. Camaraderie, friendliness.
5. Copulation; sexual activity or intercourse.
6. A group or mass of animals.
7. Linkedness, connection, similarity, likeness.
8. (rare) A large quantity of objects or things.

Descendants

• English: company
  • → Hindi: कंपनी (kampnī)
  • → Hokkien: 公班衙 (kong-pan-gêe / kong-pan-gê)
  • → Malay: kompeni
  • → Scottish Gaelic: companaidh
  • → Swahili: kampuni
• Scots: company
• Welsh: cwmni

References

• “cǒmpaignīe, n.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007, retrieved 26 April 2018.