An archaic or dialectal term for a godparent or sponsor in baptism, especially one who jointly sponsors a child with another person.
From Medieval Latin compar, meaning 'equal' or 'peer,' which evolved to mean 'godparent' in Romance languages. It comes from Latin cum- (with) plus par (equal).
Compar reveals how godparents were literally 'peers' or 'equals' in the baptismal ceremony—two compares together created a bond that was considered almost as binding as family in medieval Europe.
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