Chrony

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A close friend or long-time companion, often one who shares the same habits or pastimes
2. Someone who is a intimate companion and frequently keeps company with another person
3. A familiar associate or sworn companion, especially one bonded by long years of friendship

Etymology: The spelling "chrony" is now obsolete, but it is the older form of "crony," and it survives in one famous place: Samuel Pepys used it in his diary in 1665. The word began as slang at the University of Cambridge sometime between 1655 and 1665, where it meant a chum, a friend of long standing. Its root is the Ancient Greek "khrónios," meaning "perennial" or "long-lasting," which is also the source of the "chrono-" in words about time. So a crony was, at first, simply someone you had known for ages. The meaning later darkened. Over time the word picked up connotations of a close associate in dubious or illegal dealings, and "crony" today usually implies a partner who gets favours through loyalty rather than merit. The shift from a warm, durable friendship to a corrupt alliance is a notable change for a word that began as a compliment to endurance.