Emily Dickinson Lexicon
Definition for MATE
MATE, n.1 [D. maat; Ar. مَطَا matau, to associate. Class Md, No. 11.]
- A companion; an associate; one who customarily associates with another. Young persons nearly of an age, and frequently associating, are called mates or playmates.
- A husband or wife.
- The male or female of animals which associate for propagation and the care of their young. Milton.
- One that eats at the same table.
- One that attends the same school; a school-mate.
- An officer in a merchant ship or ship of war, whose duty is to assist the master or commander. In a merchant ship, the mate, in the absence of the master, takes command of the ship. Large ships have a first, second and third mate. In general, mate, in compound words, denotes an assistant, and ranks next in subordination to the principal; as master's mate; surgeon's mate, &c.
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