Companionage

/kəmˈpænjənɪdʒ/ noun

Definition

The state or relationship of being companions; companionship or the bond between companions.

Etymology

From companion + -age (suffix indicating state, condition, or collection). The -age suffix typically creates nouns referring to a status or collection, like 'marriage' or 'heritage.'

Kelly Says

Companionage is delightfully archaic—it appears in medieval and early modern texts to describe the official relationship between knights, squires, and travelers, making it sound almost like a feudal legal status, when it really just meant 'friendship.'

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