ὁμιλία

From the study of 1 Corinthians 15:33

Range of meaning

Being in company with others: association, companionship, social contact, and especially the conversation and give-and-take of time spent together. It can mean a gathering or crowd, and in later Greek, sexual relations or teaching (whence "homily," originally a familiar talk to a congregation). The related verb homileō means "to be with, to talk with" (Luke 24:14–15; Acts 20:11; 24:26).

Against the English

KJV/YLT "communications" meant "social interaction, converse, fellowship" in 1611. Modern readers hear messages, media or speech. BSB/NIV/ESV/NASB "company" and WEB "companionships" capture the social side well but drop the part about talk. The Greek covers both: who you spend time with, and what you hear from them while you do.

How it drifted

The English word "communication" narrowed from "sharing life, intercourse with others" to "transmitting information." The Latin Vulgate's colloquia ("conversations") also pushed the English tradition toward speech.

Used elsewhere in the period

Classical and Hellenistic Greek use it of company and conversation (Xenophon, Plato). It appears in the Septuagint at Proverbs 7:21 (the seductive woman's persuasive talk) and in Wisdom of Solomon 8:18 ("companionship" with Wisdom). Here it comes from a comic line by Menander (Thais, frag. 187 Kassel–Austin), where it means the people you socialise with.