fellowship
FEL-oh-ship
/ˈfeləʊʃɪp/
Friendly association, especially with people who share one's interests, beliefs, or academic pursuits.
Often carries a connotation of a shared journey, spiritual alignment, or formal academic/professional community.
The story behind the word. The word comes from Old English 'feolaga', which meant 'partner' or 'one who lays down property together'. This was borrowed from Old Norse 'félagi' (from 'fé' meaning 'money/property' and 'lag' meaning 'laying down'). Originally, fellowship was a business partnership where people literally pooled their money to buy a ship or fund a venture.
Word relationships
- association: Association is neutral and businesslike, while fellowship implies a warm, shared bond or common purpose.
- communion: Communion is deeply spiritual or intimate, whereas fellowship can be social, academic, or religious.
- alienation: Alienation is the state of being isolated or estranged, the opposite of belonging to a fellowship.
Commonly confused with
- membership: Membership is the simple state of belonging to a group (like a gym), while fellowship implies a deep, active sharing of values and goals.
Word family
- fellow (noun): A person in the same position, involved in the same activity, or otherwise associated with another.
Collocations
- spirit of fellowship
- christian fellowship
- academic fellowship
- enjoy fellowship
Example sentences
- "The Fellowship of the Ring was formed to undertake a perilous quest into the heart of darkness." The opening chapter of a famous fantasy epic.
- "She was awarded a prestigious research fellowship at the institute to study medieval literature." A university newsletter announcing research grants.
Memory hook
Imagine 'fellows' on a 'ship' who have pooled their money to sail together—they share both the risks and the fellowship. Fellows on a shared ship.
When not to use
Avoid using for a brief, superficial interaction with a stranger where no shared interest or community exists.
Fun facts
- In modern universities, a 'fellow' is a member of the governing body or an advanced researcher, preserving the original sense of a shared academic partnership.
Related words
Explore more words
affinity, kinship, solidarity, convivial, companionable, colleague
Also appears in
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