fellow
UK /ˈfɛ.ləʊ/ · US /ˈfɛ.loʊ/ noun, verb
Forms fellows fellowing fellowed
- noun (chiefly in the plural, also figuratively) A companion; a comrade.
- noun (chiefly in the plural) An animal which is a member of a breed or species, or a flock, herd, etc.
- noun (chiefly in the plural) An object which is associated with another object; especially, as part of a set.
- noun (also attributively) One comparable in characteristics with another; especially, as belonging to the same class or group. “my fellow Americans”
- noun (chiefly in the negative) One with abilities, achievements, skills, etc., equal to those of another; a thing with characteristics, worth, etc., equal to those of another thing. “to have no fellows”
- noun (chiefly in the plural) One in the same condition, or situation of need, as another.
- noun An equal in character, power, rank, etc.; a peer.
- noun One living at the same time, or about the same age as another, especially when in the same field of study or work.
- verb (archaic) To address (someone) as "fellow", especially in an insulting manner (see noun sense 10.6).
- verb (chiefly passive voice, poetic, archaic) To equal (someone or something); also, to cause or find someone or something to be equal to (another).
- verb To pair or suit (someone or something) with another; also, to pair or suit someone or something with (another); to arrange (things) in pairs.
- verb (also reflexive) To associate or join (oneself, someone, or something) with another in companionship or a partnership. [with to; or with with]
- verb (chiefly passive voice, sometimes reflexive) To cause or portray (someone or something) to be equal to (another). [with to; or with with]
- verb (poetic) To associate or go together with (someone or something); to become a partner of (someone or something).
- verb (intransitive, poetic, obsolete) To associate or join with a someone or something in companionship or a partnership. [with with]
Synonyms
adjunct associate business partner cohort colaborer /colabourer collaborator colleague compeer confrere consociate coworker /co-worker jobmate workfellow workmate bloke boy bro broski bruh cat chap feller fella lad gent blighter cuss companion comrade familiar
Etymology
From Middle English felawe, felowe (“companion, good friend”) from Old English fēolaga, from Old Norse félagi, derived from félag (“joint venture; partnership”, literally “a laying together of property”), from fé (“livestock, property; money”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *peḱ- (“livestock; wealth”)) + lag (“something laid down; right position; arrangement; companionship, fellowship; partnership”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *legʰ- (“to lie down”)).
* Old Norse filaga, felaka (“partner”, accusative singular), from which the other terms are derived:
* Danish fælle (“companion”)
* Faroese felagi (“member; partner”)
* Icelandic félagi (“companion, comrade, fellow; member; partner”)
* Norwegian felle (“companion”)
* Old Swedish fälaghi (modern Swedish felaga, felaha (“partner”, accusative singular))
* Scots falow, fallow, follow (“associate, companion, comrade”)
From Middle English felauen, felow (“to join (someone) in companionship, friendship, partnership, etc.”) [and other forms], from felowe, felau, felawe (noun): see etymology 1.
Webster’s 1913
- noun A companion; a comrade; an associate; a partner; a sharer.
- noun A man without good breeding or worth; an ignoble or mean man. Worth makes the man, and want of it, the fellow. Pope.
- verb To suit with; to pair with; to match. [Obs.] Shak.
Etymology [OE. felawe, felaghe, Icel. felagi, fr. felag companionship, prop., a laying together of property; fe property + lag a laying, pl. lög law, akin to liggja to lie. See Fee, and Law, Lie to be low.]
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “fellow”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details