fellow

Etymology

Definitions

1. 1

   A companion

   A companion; a comrade.

   • 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.
   • [W]e are Fellovves ſtill, / Seruing alike in ſorrovv: […]
   • Rich-men adore their Gold: whoſo aſpires / To lift to Heav'n his ſight and Soules Deſires, / He muſt be Poor (at leaſt-vviſe like the Poor). / Riches and Fear are fellovvs euer-more.
2. 2

   An animal which is a member of a breed or species, or a flock, herd, etc.

   • 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. 3

   An object which is associated with another object

   An object which is associated with another object; especially, as part of a set.

   • But five tall barks the vvinds and vvaters toſt / Far from their fellovvs, on th’Ægyptian coaſt.
   • 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: […]
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   1. 4

      A person or thing comparable in characteristics with another person or thing

      A person or thing comparable in characteristics with another person or thing; especially, as belonging to the same class or group.

      • my fellow Americans
      • Rebecca and her fellow workers are to go on strike.
      • Indeed he vvas a vvorthy Gentleman / Had his eſtate beene fellovv to his mind.
   2. 5

      Often in the form Fellow

      Often in the form Fellow: academic senses.

      • 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.
      • The fellows [of Magdalene College, Cambridge] were, by the statutes which their founder had drawn up, empowered to select their own president from among persons who were, or had been, fellows either of their society or of New College.
   3. 6

      A male person

      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.

      • my dear fellow    old fellow
      • Looke in thy laſt vvorke, vvhere thou haſt fegin'd^([sic – meaning feign'd]) him a vvorthy Fellovv.
   4. 7

      Usually qualified by an adjective or used in the plural

      Usually qualified by an adjective or used in the plural: an individual or person regardless of gender.

   5. 8

      An animal or object.

      • 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.
   6. 9

      One of a pair of things suited to each other or used together

      One of a pair of things suited to each other or used together; a counterpart, a mate.

      • Let me ſee thy gloue. Looke you, / This the fellovv of it. / It vvas I indeed you promiſed to ſtrike.
      • 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.
   7. 10

      Alternative form of fella (“used as a general intensifier”)

   8. 11

      A colleague or partner.

      • 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; […]
   9. 12

      A close companion or friend

      A close companion or friend; also, a companion or friend whom one eats or drinks with.

      • 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.
   10. 13

       Followed by of

       Followed by of: one who participates in an activity; a participant.

       • For behold me, / A Fellovv of the Royall Bed, vvhich ovve / A Moitie of the Throne: […]
       • [C]ruel his eye, but caſt / Signs of remorſe and paſſion to behold / The fellows of his crime, […]
   11. 14

       A man without good breeding or of lower social status

       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.

       • Gramercie fellovv: there, drinke that for me. Throvves him his Purſe.
       • Thou fellovv, a vvorde. / VVho gaue thee this letter?
   12. 15

       A person's servant or slave.

   13. 16

       A worthless person

       A worthless person; a churl, a knave; also, used as a term of address to a person regarded as such.

       • 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.
       • 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: […]
       • Fellovvs that ſet up for Meſſias's, only upon their ovvn Heads, vvithout pretending to any Thing ſingular or miraculous, but Impudence, and Impoſture.
   14. 17

       Synonym of schoolmate (“a student at the same school”).

       • 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.’
   15. 18

       A black man.

   16. 19

       To address (someone) as "fellow", especially in an insulting manner (see noun sense 10.6).

       • 'Don't Fellovv me,' ſaid the Bailiff, 'I am as good a Fellovv as yourſelf, I believe, tho' you have that Ribbond in your Hat there.'
       • "I dare say—I dare day—my good fellow." / "Fellow not me—I won't be fellowed now; I say I have the best of it here—man to man—I am your match."
   17. 20

       To equal (someone or something)

       To equal (someone or something); also, to cause or find someone or something to be equal to (some other person or thing).

   18. 21

       To pair or suit (someone or something) with some other person or thing

       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.

   19. 22

       Followed by to or with

       Followed by to or with: to associate or join (oneself, someone, or something) with some other person or thing in companionship or a partnership.

       • [A] man by nature is rather deſirous to fellow him ſelfe to another and ſo to liue in couple, than to adherd^([sic – meaning adhere?]) himſelfe with many.
   20. 23

       To associate or go together with (someone or something)

       To associate or go together with (someone or something); to become a partner of (someone or something).

       • Affection? thy Intention ſtabs the Center. / Thou do'ſt make poſſible things not ſo held, / Communicat'ſt vvith Dreames (hovv can this be?) / VVith vvhat's vnreall: thou coactiue art, / And fellow'ſt nothing.
       • Some fevv there vvere left all to follovv Him: / Eſteeming all to baſe to fellovv Him: / And joyfully receiv'd Him as their Lord, / Deriving their ſalvation from his VVord, […]
   21. 24

       Followed by with

       Followed by with: to associate or join with a person or thing in companionship or a partnership.

       • VVhere is the gentleman? 't vvas for his ſake / I vvould have lien vvith you, vvo'd it vvere as lavvfull to fellovv nights vvith him.

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