COMPANY LAW. "Company" is one of a number of words like "union," "guild," "society," "corporation," denoting—each with its special shade of meaning—the association of individuals in pursuit of some common object. The taking of meals together was, as the word signifies (cum, with, panis, bread,) a character istic of the early company. Guild had a similar meaning : but this characteristic, though it survives in the Livery company (see LIVERY COMPANIES), has in modern times disappeared. The word "company" is now monopolized—in British usage— by two great classes of companies—(1) the joint stock company, constituted under the Companies Acts, 1908 to 1917, namely the Companies (Consolidation) Act, 1908 (which consolidated the various Acts from 1862 to 1908) and certain amending acts, and (2) the "statutory company," -constituted under a special Act to carry on some work of public utility, such as a railway, docks, etc., and regulated by the Companies Clauses Acts, 1845 and 1863, and amending Acts. (For United States law see p. 151.)