mate
/meɪt/
noun
Origin
Middle Low German
gemate — companion
Overview
Meaning Now
- A companion or fellow associate; a friend.
- A spouse or sexual partner.
- One of a pair of animals, especially for breeding.
Literal older meaning
comrade or sharer
Language path
Proto-Germanic → Middle Low German → English
Earliest form
mate
Earliest period
14th century
Journey
The word originally referred specifically to someone who shares a meal (a 'messmate'). It evolved within maritime and vocational contexts before becoming a general term for friends and partners.
Evolution
- Proto-Germanic
*ga-matjon
“messmate, one who eats with another”
Compound of *ga- (together) + *matiz (food/meat).
- Middle Low German
gemate
“companion, partner”
- Middle English
mate
“companion, associate”
Connections
Word parts
ge-
prefix
together/joint
mate
root
food/eating
Related across languages
Dutch
maat
companion, measure
German
Maat
nautical petty officer
Related words
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Related to mate
External references use DefinedTerm semantics.