consultation

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˌkɒnsəlˈteɪʃən/ (UK); /ˌkɑnsəlˈteɪʃən/, /ˌkɒnsəlˈteɪʃən/ (US)^[1]

Etymology

It is inherited from Middle English consultacioun, from Old French consultation or directly borrowed from Latin cōnsultātiō (“a mature deliberation, consideration”), cōnsultātiōnem,^[2][3][4] from cōnsultāre, to consult, ask counsel of (see consult),^[2][5] a frequentative of cōnsulere, to deliberate, originally probably to call together.^[2]

Earliest recorded meaning

A meeting of persons to consult together: about 1425, the early 15th century in Etymonline.^[6][2]

Semantic evolution

The act of consulting or taking counsel together is from 1548 (the 1540s).^[6][2] A meeting of doctors to discuss a case is from 1800,^[6] and in law a meeting for advising with counsel from 1882.^[6] Consulting a book is from 1751.^[6]

Timeline

• c. 1425 – a conference.^[6]
• 1548 – the act of consulting.^[6]
• 1751 – consulting a book.^[6]
• 1800 – a medical consultation.^[6]

Modern meaning

Noun

1. The act or process of consulting.
2. A meeting to seek advice or exchange views, especially with a doctor or lawyer.

Word family

• preconsultation
• reconsultation

Related words

• consult
• consultant
• counsel
• consul

References

1. ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
3. ^ Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
4. ^ Shorter Oxford English Dictionary on Historical Principles (2002), 5th ed., ed. William R. Trumble and Angus Stevenson, Oxford: Oxford University Press
5. ^ Pearsall, Judy, ed. (1998), The New Oxford Dictionary of English, Oxford: Clarendon Press
6. ^ a b c d e f g h i Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press