[smvoice]

I think “co”-anything would become crystal clear as to its meaning if it were applied to Co-owner. That means equal in anyone’s book. If Mary is a co-owner with Christ, the meaning would be pretty clear. Not “with Christ” but equal partners. At least in my book.

[count-your-change]

In most instances I would thinks so too but I am willing to acknowledge the exceptions and allow that there is a certain imprecision in the term.

But most surely if my mother is co-owner of my car by virtue of being mom her name better be on the title or pink slip or she's a passenger. And as I remind her, cars come with only one steering wheel for a reason.

[Mad Dawg]

But, we do not say a plane has two co-pilots, but one pilot and one co-pilot. There the co-pilot is understood to be inferior. Where there are two co-owners, BOTH are co-owners, and the sense of "co-" includes a sense of equality (the thing being examined.)

But where there is a pilot and a co-pilot then the sense is one of inferior cooperation. The constant in both cases is "with" as I said and as I was attacked for saying.

The co-pilot is interesting because I remember a book and then a bumper sticker which said,"God is my co-pilot." Later somebody produced a sticker saying, "God's the pilot. I'm just the co-pilot."

So there the sense of "co-" was clearly one of inferiority.