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Companion vs Assistant - What's the difference?

companion | assistant | Synonyms |

In obsolete terms the difference between companion and assistant

is that companion is to qualify as a companion; to make equal while assistant is someone who is present; a bystander, a witness.

As a verb companion

is to be a companion to; to attend on; to accompany.

As an adjective assistant is

having a subordinate or auxiliary position.

companion

English

Noun

(en noun)
  • A friend, acquaintance, or partner; someone with whom one spends time or keeps company
    • His dog has been his trusted companion for the last five years.
  • * Shakespeare
    • Here are your sons again; and I must lose / Two of the sweetest companions in the world.
  • (dated) A person employed to accompany or travel with another.
  • (nautical) The framework on the quarterdeck of a sailing ship through which daylight entered the cabins below.
  • (nautical) The covering of a hatchway on an upper deck which leads to the companionway; the stairs themselves.
  • (topology) A knot in whose neighborhood another, specified knot meets every meridian disk.
  • (figuratively) A thing or phenomenon that is closely associated with another thing, phenomenon, or person.
  • (astronomy) A celestial object that is associated with another.
  • A knight of the lowest rank in certain orders.
    • a companion of the Bath
  • (obsolete, derogatory) A fellow; a rogue.
  • * 1599 , , III. i. 111:
    • and let us knog our / prains together to be revenge on this same scald, scurvy, / cogging companion ,

    Synonyms

    * See also

    Derived terms

    * companionable, uncompanionable * companion hatch * companion ladder * companionship * companionway

    Related terms

    * accompany, accompanying * company

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • (obsolete) To be a companion to; to attend on; to accompany.
    • (Ruskin)
  • (obsolete) To qualify as a companion; to make equal.
  • * (rfdate) (William Shakespeare)
    • Companion me with my mistress.

    assistant

    English

    Alternative forms

    * assistaunt (obsolete)

    Adjective

    (-) (attributive)
  • Having a subordinate or auxiliary position.
    • an assistant surgeon
  • Helping; lending aid or support; auxiliary.
  • * Beattie
    • Genius and learning are mutually and greatly assistant to each other.

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (obsolete) Someone who is present; a bystander, a witness.
  • *, II.3:
    • a woman of great authority, having first yeelded an accompt unto her Citizens, and shewed good reasons why she was resolved to end her life, earnestly entreated Pompey to be an assistant at her death, that so it might be esteemed more honourable.
  • A person who assists or helps someone else.
  • (British) Sales assistant.
  • A software tool that provides assistance in some task.

    • Related terms

    * assist * assistance

    Anagrams

    * ----