Etymologically
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concordia

Etymology and origin of the Latin word concordia

History

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [kɔŋˈkɔr.di.a][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [koŋˈkɔr.di.a][1]

Forms

concordia f (genitive concordiae); first declension[1]

Etymology

It is formed from concors “of one mind, agreeing” with the suffix -ia.[2][1] Concors is a compound of con- (“together”) and cor “heart”, literally “with hearts together”, from Proto-Indo-European *ḱerd- (“heart”).[3][4] Its opposite is discordia, formed in the same way.[3][5]

Earliest recorded meaning

De Vaan dates it from Plautus onwards,[3] who speaks of bringing a wife back into her former harmony with her husband.[5][6] Ennius writes that the gods bring concord.[2]

Semantic evolution

It meant mutual agreement, friendship or harmony between persons, as of a harmonious marriage in Cicero, and above all concord between opposing parties and classes in the state, as in Cicero's concordia ordinum.[2][5] It was used of harmony between things, such as the attraction of a magnet for iron, and of musical harmony.[2][6]

Personified, Concordia was a goddess with several temples in Rome, the oldest attributed to Camillus, where the Senate often met.[2][5] Coins of the emperors proclaim the concordia of the armies.[2] In medieval Latin it meant an amicable settlement and an alliance.[7] English borrowed it through French as English concord in the early 14th century.[4]

Timeline

  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it for harmony between husband and wife.[5][3]
  • 204–169 BC – Ennius writes that the gods bring concord.[2][8]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero praises the concord of the orders.[5][8]
  • 9 AD – Tiberius rebuilds the temple of Concordia.[5]
  • Middle Ages – It means an amicable settlement and an alliance.[7]
  • early 14th century – Through French it gives English concord.[4]

Meanings

Noun

  1. Agreement, friendship, harmony (between persons).[2][5]
  2. Concord, peace between parties or classes.[2]
  3. Harmony between things; musical harmony.[2]
  4. Concordia: the goddess of Concord.[2][5]
  5. (Medieval Latin) An amicable settlement; an alliance.[7]

Word family

  • concordiālis
  • concordātiō
  • concorditer
  • concordō
  • concors
  • cor
  • discordia
  • English concord

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 d de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
  4. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas, Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  6. ^ a b Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
  7. ^ a b c Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
  8. ^ a b Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
Cite this entry

“Concordia.” Etymologically, 10 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/concordia. Accessed 10 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on .