Etymologically
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consensus

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Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [kõːˈsẽː.sʊs][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [konˈsɛn.sus][1]

Forms

cōnsēnsus m (genitive cōnsēnsūs); fourth declension[1]

Etymology

It is from cōnsentiō “to agree”, from con- “together” and sentiō “to feel”, with the suffix -tus.[2][1]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citations are from Cicero, of agreement in opinion.[2] Köbler dates Cicero 81–43 BC.[3]

Semantic evolution

It meant agreement in opinion or feeling, concord, unanimity, as in Cicero, and in Caesar combined action.[2] In Cicero it also meant the harmony of things in nature.[2]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant agreement, concord.[4] Medieval Latin used it for the assent of a single person.[5] British Medieval Latin used it for consent, and for privity, complicity.[6] It was borrowed into Italian and Spanish consenso, and English consensus is recorded from 1854, first as a term of physiology.[1][7]

Timeline

  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of agreement.[2][3]
  • c. 50 BC – Caesar uses it of combined action.[2][3]
  • 1854 – English consensus is recorded.[7]

Meanings

Noun

  1. Agreement, unanimity, consensus.[2]
  2. Combined action.[2]
  3. Harmony (of things).[2]
  4. (Medieval Latin) Consent; complicity.[5][6]

Usage notes

It is also the participle cōnsēnsus of cōnsentiō.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  4. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
  5. ^ a b Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
  6. ^ a b Latham, R. E., D. R. Howlett, R. K. Ashdowne, et al. (1975–2013), Dictionary of Medieval Latin from British Sources, London: British Academy / Oxford University Press
  7. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com