companion [ME] A companion is literally ‘a person who you eat bread with’. The word comes from Old French compaignon, from Latin com- ‘together with’ and panis ‘bread’. Other English words that derive from panis include pannier [ME], pastille [LME] a ‘little loaf’ of something, and pantry [ME]. Company [ME] and accompany [LME] come from the same root.