cohaereo

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [koˈ(ɦ)ae̯.re.oː]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [koˈɛː.re.o]^[1]

Forms

cohaereō (present infinitive cohaerēre, perfect active cohaesī, supine cohaesum); second conjugation, no passive^[1]

Etymology

It is from con- “together” and haereō “to stick”.^[2][1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citation is from Terence, of words that hang together in sense.^[2] Köbler dates Terence 190–159 BC.^[4]

Semantic evolution

It meant to stick together, adhere, as in Cicero, and in Livy to adjoin.^[2] In Cicero it meant of structures and systems to hold together, and to be bound up with something, in Terence to be consistent, and in Seneca to be joined by ties of kinship or friendship.^[2]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant to cleave to, hold together, be consistent, agree.^[5] It gave English cohere in the 1590s, first “to be consistent”.^[3]

Timeline

• 190–159 BC – Terence uses it of consistency.^[2][4]
• 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of sticking and holding together.^[2][4]
• 1590s – English cohere is recorded.^[3]

Meanings

Verb

1. To stick together, adhere.^[2]
2. To adjoin.^[2]
3. To hold together, cohere.^[2]
4. To be consistent.^[2]
5. To be bound up with; to be related.^[2]

Word family

• cohaerentia
• cohaerēns
• cohaerenter
• cohaerēscō
• cohaesus

Related words

• adhaereō
• haereō
• inhaereō
• English cohere

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 Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
4. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
5. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson