Com panis = companions

Susie Dent is a hero of mine. I’ve recently purchased ‘ Word Perfect ‘ “ etymological entertainment for every day of the year “.

This entry should have been March 25th, Lady Day. A summary of Susie’s entry for that day goes thus;

The earliest meaning of lady was ‘kneaded of dough’. In Anglo-Saxon times, a lady was a powerful woman who ruled the household and was responsible for its staple food.

“ The metaphor for food extends beyond position in society to embrace friendship and enmity too. A parasite, for example, was a person who sat next ( para) to you and took food ( sitos) from your table. Even the word ‘mate’ is a riff on ‘meat’, which for the Anglo-Saxons designated all food, whether plant- or animal-based ... “

“ And once again, friendship was defined in terms of someone who sat with you at your table: your ‘mate’ was someone with whom you shared your ‘meat’.

As for the kneaders of dough, the first ‘companions’ were people with ( com ) whom you might share your bread ( panis ). “

I shared the cakes with my friend Helen, who’s birthday it was yesterday ... and I’ll probably let Sav share the bread ;-).