colleague

colleague
\ \ [16] A colleague is literally ‘one chosen or delegated to be or work with another’.
\ \ It comes via French collègue from Latin collēga, a compound noun formed from com- ‘with’ and lēg-, the stem of lēgārechoose’ (whence also English legation and delegate) and lēxlaw’ (source of English legal, legitimate, etc). Despite the similarity in spelling, it is not related to English league.
\ \ Cf.COLLEGE, DELEGATE, LEGAL, LEGITIMATE

Word origins - 2ed. . 2005.

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  • colleague — col‧league [ˈkɒliːg ǁ ˈkɑː ] noun [countable] someone you work with, used especially by professional people or managers: • a colleague of mine at the bank * * * colleague UK US /ˈkɒliːg/ noun [C] ► WORKPLACE a person that you work with: »He has a …   Financial and business terms

  • colleague — colleague, comrade A colleague (etymologically ‘one chosen along with another’) is a fellow worker, typically a white collar worker. The OED noted that the word was ‘not applied to partners in trade or manufacture’, i.e. blue collar workers. A… …   Modern English usage

  • Colleague — Col league (k[o^]l l[=e]g), n. [F. coll[ e]gue, L. collega one chosen at the same time with another, a partner in office; col + legare to send or choose as deputy. See {Legate}.] A partner or associate in some civil or ecclesiastical office or… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Colleague — Col*league (k[o^]l*l[=e]g ), v. t. & i. To unite or associate with another or with others. [R.] Shak. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • colleague — I noun abettor, accessory, accompanier, accomplice, adjunct, adjutant, adjuvant, advocate, aider and abettor, ally, assistant, associate, attendant, auxiliary, backer, brother, champion, coadjutant, coadjutor, coadjutress, coadjutrix, coadjuvant …   Law dictionary

  • colleague — 1530s, from M.Fr. collègue (16c.), from L. collega partner in office, from com with (see COM (Cf. com )) + leg , stem of legare to choose (see LEGATE (Cf. legate)). So, one chosen to work with another, or one chosen at the same time as anoth …   Etymology dictionary

  • colleague — *partner, copartner, ally, confederate Analogous words: *associate, companion, comrade …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • colleague — [n] associate, fellow worker aide, ally, assistant, auxiliary, buddy, chum, coadjutor, cohort, collaborator, companion, compatriot, compeer, comrade, confederate, confrere, coworker, crony, friend, helper, pal, partner, teammate, workmate;… …   New thesaurus

  • colleague — ► NOUN ▪ a person with whom one works. ORIGIN Latin collega partner in office …   English terms dictionary

  • colleague — [käl′ēg΄] n. [Fr collègue < L collega, one chosen along with another < com , with + legare, to appoint as deputy: see LEGATE] a fellow worker in the same profession; associate SYN. ASSOCIATE …   English World dictionary

  • colleague */*/*/ — UK [ˈkɒliːɡ] / US [ˈkɑˌlɪɡ] noun [countable] Word forms colleague : singular colleague plural colleagues someone who works in the same organization or department as you Friends and colleagues will remember him with affection. his Cabinet/party… …   English dictionary

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