company

The story

1. Late Latin · derived from*compania
2. Old French · derived fromcompaignie“companionship”
3. Middle English · inherited fromcompanye“a team; companionship”
4. English todaycompany

From Middle English companye (“a team; companionship”), from Old French compaignie (“companionship”) (Modern French: compagnie), possibly from Late Latin *compania, but this word is not attested. Old French compaignie is equivalent to Old French compaignon (Modern French: compagnon) + -ie. More at companion. Displaced native Old English werod, gefer, getæl, and hired.