Word of the Day

: February 2, 2008

cohort

noun KOH-hort

What It Means

1 a : one of 10 divisions of an ancient Roman legion

b : band, group

c : a group of individuals having a statistical factor (as age or class membership) in common in a demographic study

2 : companion, colleague

cohort in Context

"A cohort of chambermaids would descend twice daily with mops, brooms, and fresh towels in tow." (Doone Beale, Gourmet, April 1989)

Did You Know?

In ancient times, a cohort was a military unit, one of ten divisions in a Roman legion. The term passed into English via French in the 15th century, when it was used in translations and writings about Roman history. Once "cohort" became established in our language, its meaning was extended, first to refer to any body of troops, then to any group of individuals with something in common, and later to a single companion. Some usage commentators have objected to this last sense because it can be hard to tell whether the plural refers to different individuals or different groups. The "companion" sense is well established in standard use, however, and its meaning is clear enough in such sentences as "her cohorts came along with her to the game."

*Indicates the sense illustrated by the example sentence.