Word: fellow Part of Speech: noun Etymology: From Middle English felawe, 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”) Pronunciation: /ˈfɛ.ləʊ/, /ˈfɛ.lo/, /ˈfɛ.lou/, /ˈfɛ.loʊ/, /ˈfɛlə/ 1. A companion; a comrade. Labels: also, figuratively, in-plural Example: But now vnderſtand you, that the kingdome of God is communicated vntoo you by our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, bycauſe he hath purchaced it for you, and made you his brethren and fellowes. Example: [W]e are Fellovves ſtill, / Seruing alike in ſorrovv: […] 2. An animal which is a member of a breed or species, or a flock, herd, etc. Labels: in-plural Example: But as ſome of the Oxen in driving, miſſed their fellovvs behind and honing after them, bellovved as their nature is: Hercules chanced to heare them lovv again, and anſvver from out of the cave vvherein they had been beſtovved: vvhereat he turned back, and made haſte thither. Example: A Certain Shepherd had One Favourite-Dog, that he had a Particular Confidence in above all the reſt. He fed him vvith his Ovvn hand, and took more Care of him, in ſhort, then of any of his Fellovvs. 3. An object which is associated with another object; especially, as part of a set. Labels: in-plural Example: But five tall barks the vvinds and vvaters toſt / Far from their fellovvs, on th’Ægyptian coaſt. Example: The great cannon of Mahomet has been ſeparately noticed; an important and viſible object in the hiſtory of the times: but that enormous engine was flanked by two fellows [i.e., cannons] almoſt of equal magnitude: […] 4. One comparable in characteristics with another; especially, as belonging to the same class or group. Labels: also, attributive Example: my fellow Americans Example: Rebecca and her fellow workers are to go on strike. 5. One comparable in characteristics with another; especially, as belonging to the same class or group. Labels: also, attributive Example: {{|en|to be without fellow}} Example: to have no fellows 6. One comparable in characteristics with another; especially, as belonging to the same class or group. Labels: also, attributive, in-plural Example: [I]rrationall creatures cannot diſtinguiſh betvveene Injury, and Dammage; and therefore as long as they be at eaſe, they are not offended vvith their fellovves: […] Example: And oft I wiſh, amidſt the ſcene, to find / Some ſpot to real happineſs conſign'd, / Where my worn ſoul, each wand'ring hope at reſt, / May gather bliſs to ſee my fellows bleſt. 7. One comparable in characteristics with another; especially, as belonging to the same class or group. Labels: also, archaic, attributive, in-plural Example: Are yet tvvo Romans liuing ſuch as theſe? / The laſt of all the Romans, far thee vvell: / It is impoſſible, that euer Rome / Should breed thy fellovv. Example: [C]hieftaine of the reſt / I choſe him heere, the earth ſhall him allovv, / His fellovves late, ſhall be his ſubiects novv. 8. One comparable in characteristics with another; especially, as belonging to the same class or group. Labels: also, archaic, attributive, in-plural 9. Senses relating to academia; often in the form Fellow. Example: In the Parliament novv ſitting at VVeſtminſter (in vvhoſe parallel Convocation nothing of conſequence) the moſt remarkable thing Enacted vvas, the Act made to enable the Provoſt, and Fellovves of Chelsey-Colledge, to dig a trench out of the river Lee, […] Example: One Thomas Stanbridge, […] vvho dying 1522, left ſeveral Books to the Coll. of vvhich he had been Fellovv; vvhich, if I miſtake not, vvas Magd[alen] College. 10. Senses relating to academia; often in the form Fellow. Example: a Fellow of the Royal Society Example: I was now chosen (and nominated by his Majestie for one of yᵉ Council) by suffrage of the rest of yᵉ Members, a Fellow of yᵉ Philosophic Society now meeting at Gresham College, where was an assembly of divers learning gentlemen. 11. Senses relating to academia; often in the form Fellow. Labels: UK, historical, specifically Example: About the ſame time he vvent to London, became Fellovv of the Middle Temple, and aftervvards tranſlated from Lat. to Engliſh The five Books of Hieronimus Oſorius, containing a diſcourſe of Civil and Chriſtian Nobility, Lond. 1576. qu[arto]. 12. Senses relating to academia; often in the form Fellow. 13. Senses relating to academia; often in the form Fellow. Labels: UK 14. Senses relating to academia; often in the form Fellow. Labels: Canada, US 15. Senses relating to academia; often in the form Fellow. Labels: US 16. Senses relating to academia; often in the form Fellow. Labels: US 17. 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. Labels: informal Example: my dear fellow Example: old fellow 18. An individual regardless of gender; usually qualified by an adjective or used in the plural. Example: [H]e would sometimes reward her with a hearty slap on the back, and protest that she was a devilish good fellow, a jolly dog, and so forth; all of which compliments Miss Sally would receive in entire good part and with perfect satisfaction. Example: The cut of her dress from the waist upward, both before and behind, made her figure very like a boy's kite; and I might have pronounced her gown a little too decidedly-orange, and her gloves a little too intensely green. But she seemed to be a good sort of fellow, and showed a high regard for the Aged. 19. An animal or object. Labels: broadly, humorous, ironic, often Example: In short, this fellow (laying his hand on his purse) who, thou knowest, father, was somewhat lank and low in condition when I set out four months since, is now as round and full as a six-weeks' porker. Example: So I took the gun and went up a piece into the woods and was hunting around for some birds, when I see a wild pig; hogs soon went wild in them bottoms after they had got away from the prairie farms. I shot this fellow and took him into camp. 20. One of a pair of things suited to each other or used together; a counterpart, a mate. Labels: archaic Example: Let me ſee thy gloue. Looke you, / This the fellovv of it. / It vvas I indeed you promiſed to ſtrike. Example: I vvalk'd about on the Shore, […] reflecting upon all my Comrades that vvere drovvn'd, […] I never ſavv them aftervvards, or any Sign of them, except three of their Hats, one Cap, and tvvo Shoes that vvere not Fellovvs. 21. One of a pair of things suited to each other or used together; a counterpart, a mate. Labels: archaic, obsolete Example: [N]ovv vvhen they be but heyfers of one year, or tvvo years at the moſt (vvhich is more tollerable) they are let goe to the fellovv and breed. Example: I am your vvife, if you vvill marrie me; / If not, Ile die your maid: to be your fellovv / You may denie me, but Ile be your ſeruant / VVhether you vvill or no. 22. Alternative form of fella: used as a general intensifier. Labels: alt-of, alternative, archaic 23. A colleague or partner. Labels: obsolete Example: Time, and Heat, are Fellovves in many Effects. Heat drieth Bodies, that doe eaſily expire; As Parchment, Leaues, Roots, Clay, &c. And, ſo doth Time or Age arefie; […] 24. A colleague or partner. Labels: also, figuratively, obsolete, specifically Example: For certaine / Either ſome one like us night founder'd here, / Or elſe ſome neighbour vvood man, or at worſt / Some roaving robber calling to his fellovvs. 25. A close companion or friend; also, a companion or friend whom one eats or drinks with. Labels: obsolete Example: If thou be for his profit, he vſeth the: but yf thou haue nothinge, he ſhal forſake the. As longe as thou haſt eny thinge of thine owne, he ſhal be a good felowe with the: Yee he ſhal make the a bare man, and not be ſory for it. Example: [T]ruly for the Engliſheman to bee offended with the admixtion of Latine, or the Latine manne to miſlike the poutheryng of Greke, appereth vnto me a moche like thing, as […] one that drinketh ſingle Beere, ſhould be greued with his next feloe, for drinking ale or wine. 26. One who participates in an activity; a participant; followed by of. Labels: obsolete Example: For behold me, / A Fellovv of the Royall Bed, vvhich ovve / A Moitie of the Throne: […] Example: [C]ruel his eye, but caſt / Signs of remorſe and paſſion to behold / The fellows of his crime, […] 27. A man without good breeding or of lower social status; a common or ignoble man; also, used as a polite term of address. Labels: obsolete Example: Gramercie fellovv: there, drinke that for me. Throvves him his Purſe. Example: Thou fellovv, a vvorde. / VVho gaue thee this letter? 28. A servant or slave. Labels: obsolete Example: But before al of them were assembled to begin their sports, there came a fellow, who being out of breath (or seeming so to be for haste) with humble hastines told Basilius, that his Mistres, the Lady Cecropia, had sent him to excuse the mischance of her beastes ranging in that dãgerous sort, being happened by the folly of the keeper; […] 29. A worthless person; a churl, a knave; also, used as a term of address. Labels: derogatory, obsolete Example: Iff I were a fleſhly felowe, and a preacher of lyes and tolde them that they might ſyt bebbinge and bollynge, and be droncken: O that were a prophet for this people. Example: And vvho doth lead them but a paltrey fellovv,? / Long kept in Brittaine at our mothers coſt, / A milkeſopt, one that neuer in his life / Felt ſo much colde as ouer ſhooes in ſnovv: […] 30. Synonym of schoolmate: a student at the same school. Labels: UK, obsolete, slang Example: Adrian thought it worth while to try out his new slang. ‘I say, you fellows, here's a rum go. Old Biffo was jolly odd this morning. He gave me a lot of pi-jaw about slacking and then invited me to tea. No rotting! He did really.’ 31. A black man. Labels: Southern-US, derogatory, obsolete