Cohabits

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. To dwell in the same residence with another individual in a way that typically involves sharing both space and daily life experiences
2. To reside under the same roof with someone, often engaging in mutual support and companionship
3. To live together in the same dwelling and share daily life experiences

Etymology: "Cohabits" is the third-person singular form of "cohabit," so its history is that of the verb itself. The verb comes from Latin "cohabitare," built from "co-," meaning "together," and "habitare," meaning "to dwell" or "to live in." Those two parts make the word's meaning transparent: to cohabit is literally to dwell together. The Latin "habitare" is itself a frequentative of "habere," "to have" or "to hold," so the idea of dwelling sits close to the idea of holding or occupying a place. English took the word from Latin in the same spirit that it took many other "co-" compounds, and the verb has kept its plain, literal sense of sharing a home.

Synonyms: live together, coexist, share, dwell, reside

Antonyms: separate, divorce, part, split, disband