Etymologically
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con-

This is the current revision of this entry, as edited by bogdan on 23 October 2026 at 04:08. This address is a permanent link to this version.
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Pronunciation

  • Classical: [kɔn][1]
  • Ecclesiastical: [kon][1]

Forms

con- [1]

Etymology

It is from Latin com-, in the form the prefix takes before most consonants (/t/, /d/, /n/, /s/, /f/, /w/, /j/), and, pronounced [koŋ-], before /k/, /kʷ/ and /g/.[2][3] The OLD files the prefix under this form, deriving it from cum “with”, and notes that ⟨com-⟩ was the original form.[3] Wiktionary traces it to Proto-Italic *kom-.[1]

Semantic evolution

Varro and Quintilian already discuss it as a separate element: Varro explains comminīscī “devise” as ā con et mente, and Quintilian takes ⟨co-⟩ in coit as the preposition con.[3]

Meanings

Prefix

  1. together, at the same time or place: conveniō, cōnsessor.[3][1]
  2. Jointly; in partnership: concors, commīlitō.[3]
  3. Enclosing: concavus, contineō.[3]
  4. (intensive) Strongly: contueor, cōnītor.[3][1]
  5. Completely: cōnficiō, compleō.[3][1]

Word family

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press