fellow

Meaning

Noun

1. (also, figuratively, in-plural) A companion; a comrade.
2. (in-plural) An animal which is a member of a breed or species, or a flock, herd, etc.
3. (in-plural) An object which is associated with another object; especially, as part of a set.
4. (also, attributive) A person or thing comparable in characteristics with another person or thing; especially, as belonging to the same class or group.
5. (also, attributive) A person or thing comparable in characteristics with another person or thing; especially, as belonging to the same class or group.
6. (also, attributive, in-plural) A person or thing comparable in characteristics with another person or thing; especially, as belonging to the same class or group.
7. (also, archaic, attributive, in-plural) A person or thing comparable in characteristics with another person or thing; especially, as belonging to the same class or group.
8. (also, archaic, attributive, in-plural) A person or thing comparable in characteristics with another person or thing; especially, as belonging to the same class or group.
9. Often in the form Fellow: academic senses.
10. Often in the form Fellow: academic senses.
11. Often in the form Fellow: academic senses.
12. (British, historical, specifically) Often in the form Fellow: academic senses.
13. (British) Often in the form Fellow: academic senses.
14. (Canada, US) Often in the form Fellow: academic senses.
15. (US) Often in the form Fellow: academic senses.
16. (US) Often in the form Fellow: academic senses.
17. (informal) A male person; a bloke, a chap, a guy, a man; also, preceded by a modifying word, sometimes with a sense of mild reproach: used as a familiar term of address to a man.
18. (rare) Usually qualified by an adjective or used in the plural: an individual or person regardless of gender.
19. (broadly, humorous, ironic, often) An animal or object.
20. (archaic) One of a pair of things suited to each other or used together; a counterpart, a mate.
21. (archaic) One of a pair of things suited to each other or used together; a counterpart, a mate.
22. (alt-of, alternative, archaic) Alternative form of fella (“used as a general intensifier”)
23. (obsolete) A colleague or partner.
24. (also, figuratively, obsolete, specifically) A colleague or partner.
25. (obsolete) A close companion or friend; also, a companion or friend whom one eats or drinks with.
26. (obsolete) Followed by of: one who participates in an activity; a participant.
27. (obsolete) A man without good breeding or of lower social status; a common or ignoble man; also, used as a polite term of address to such a person.
28. (obsolete) A person's servant or slave.
29. (derogatory, obsolete) A worthless person; a churl, a knave; also, used as a term of address to a person regarded as such.
30. (UK, obsolete, slang) Synonym of schoolmate (“a student at the same school”).
31. (Southern-US, derogatory, obsolete) A black man.

Verb

1. (archaic, transitive) To address (someone) as "fellow", especially in an insulting manner (see noun sense 10.6).
2. (archaic, poetic, transitive) To equal (someone or something); also, to cause or find someone or something to be equal to (some other person or thing).
3. (obsolete, transitive) To pair or suit (someone or something) with some other person or thing; also, to pair or suit someone or something with (some other person or thing); to arrange (things) in pairs.
4. (also, obsolete, reflexive, transitive) Followed by to or with: to associate or join (oneself, someone, or something) with some other person or thing in companionship or a partnership.
5. (obsolete, reflexive, sometimes, transitive) Followed by to or with: to cause or portray (someone or something) to be equal to some other person or thing.
6. (obsolete, poetic, transitive) To associate or go together with (someone or something); to become a partner of (someone or something).
7. (intransitive, obsolete, poetic) Followed by with: to associate or join with a person or thing in companionship or a partnership.

Synonyms

guy

companion

chap

man

👨

comrade

mate

🧉

associate

friend

bloke

colleague

lad

partner

dude

buddy

member

peer

beau

pal

fella

person

🧑‍🦱

feller

confrere

boyfriend

character

buster

brother

👨‍👦

gent

cuss

boy

👦

young man

co-

match

carl

one

consort

neighbour

opponent

swain

brethren

human

individual

male

♂️

company

boy-friend

acquaintance

familiar

chum

counterpart

blighter

ally

Translations

compañero

mec

compagno

socio

type

Kamerad

compagnon

vent

homme

👨

Kerl

individu

collega

socio

Kollege

Gefährte

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈfɛləʊ/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: felowe

Inherited from Middle English: felage

Inherited from Old English: fēolaga

Cognate with Old Norse: filaga

Cognate with Danish: fælle

Cognate with Faroese: felagi

Cognate with Icelandic: félagi

Cognate with Norwegian: felle

Cognate with Swedish: felaga

Cognate with Scots: falow

Inherited from Middle English: felauen

In summary

From Middle English felowe, Early Middle English felage (“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”)).
Cognates
* 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”)

Sentences

Lang and his fellow curates fashioned a clergy house from a derelict public house .