consulter

Forms

consulter^[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Latin cōnsultō (“to deliberate, to consult, ask advice”), the frequentative of cōnsulō, which had the same senses.^[2][3][4] The origin of the Latin verb is obscure;^[3][5] Littré connects it with the same stem as cōnsilium, the source of conseil.^[6]

The usual date is 1410, from an ordinance quoted in the chronicle of Duke Louis of Bourbon;^[3][7][5] the TLFi notes that this text is an undated copy and gives 1468 as the first secure record.^[2]

Earliest recorded meaning

In its earliest uses, consulter de qqch. meant to deliberate about a matter (1410), and consulter qqch. to confer about it (1468).^[2][3]

Semantic evolution

Until the 16th century the verb meant to deliberate or to confer about something.^[3][7] The modern senses appeared in the 16th century: to ask someone's advice (1549, transitive from 1585), of a lawyer or a physician to give consultations (1549), and to look in a book or text for information (1585).^[2][3] In the 17th century two intransitive uses were very common, “to examine a case by discussing it” and “to question oneself, to hesitate”; both are now archaic, except the medical sense of several doctors examining a case together.^[3][8]

Littré records figurative phrases such as consulter son chevet “to sleep on a decision” and consulter son miroir “to look at oneself in the mirror”.^[6] The meaning “to be guided by” (one's reason, one's interests) survives in literary use.^[8][6]

Timeline

• 1410 – Consulter de qqch. “to deliberate about something” is recorded in an ordinance.^[3][2]
• 1468 – Consulter qqch. “to confer about something” appears in the accounts of Nevers.^[2]
• 1549 – Robert Estienne records it for “to take advice” and for a lawyer giving consultations.^[2][3]
• 1585 – Noël du Fail uses it transitively for asking someone's advice and for looking things up in books.^[2]
• 1660 – The derivative consultable is first recorded, in Oudin.^[2]

Meanings

Verb

1. To consult, ask the advice or opinion of: consulter une avocate, consulter ses collègues avant de décider.^[8][1]
2. To refer to, look at (a book, a document, an instrument) for information: consulter un atlas, consulter l'horloge.^[8][1]
3. (intransitive) Of a doctor, to see patients, give consultations: cette pédiatre consulte le mardi.^[8][2]
4. (reciprocal) Se consulter: to confer with one another.^[8]
5. (literary) To be guided by: consulter sa raison.^[8][6]
6. (archaic) To deliberate, to weigh the matter before deciding.^[2][8]

Word family

• consultant
• consultatif
• consulteur
• consultable

Related words

• consultation
• conseiller¹
• conseil
• consul
• Latin cōnsulō

References

1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Trésor de la langue française informatisé (2004), ATILF – CNRS & Université de Lorraine, atilf.fr/tlfi; electronic version of Imbs, Paul; Quemada, Bernard, eds. (1971–1994), Trésor de la langue française, Paris: CNRS / Gallimard
3. ^ a b c d e f g h i Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
4. ^ Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
5. ^ a b Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
6. ^ a b c d Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
7. ^ a b Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
8. ^ a b c d e f g h Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert