Fun fact about the word “fellowship”: “Fellowship” began with pooled property. Old Norse félag was a partnership: fé meant property or money, and lag meant a laying down. A félagi put wealth into the shared venture. Fellow widened from business partner to companion or peer, and “fellowship” carried the bond with it. What did the earliest fellows lay down together? #words #vocabulary
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KNOW MORE ABOUT THIS WORD: fellowship. Say it: /ˈfɛləʃɪp/ Meaning: the state of being with someone
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THE STORY: Where it started. Fellowship is formed from fellow, borrowed into Old English from Old Norse felagi, a partner. Felagi came from felag, a partnership, built from fe, property or money, and lag, a laying down.
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NEXT: What changed. A fellow was originally someone who laid down money or property into a shared venture. Partnership in pooled assets widened into companionship, equality, and membership, allowing fellowship to mean both a community and the relationship joining its members.
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NOW: Where it ended up. Fellowship began with pooled property. Old Norse félag was a partnership: fé meant property or money, and lag meant a laying down. A félagi put wealth into the shared venture. Fellow widened from business partner to companion or peer, and fellowship carried the bond with it.
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YOUR TURN: What about you?. What did the earliest fellows lay down together?