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consequor

Etymology and origin of the Latin word consequor

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Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
Plautus
Ultimate origin
Latin (sequor)

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ˈkõː.sɛ.kʷɔr][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈkɔn.se.kʷor][1]

Forms

cōnsequor (present infinitive cōnsequī, perfect active cōnsecūtus sum or cōnsequūtus sum); third conjugation, deponent[1]

Etymology

It is from con- “with, fully” and sequor “to follow”.[2][1][3][4] Manuscripts have ⟨consequt-⟩ and ⟨consequut-⟩ forms.[2]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citations are from Plautus, of following and attending.[2] Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.[5]

Semantic evolution

It meant to follow, attend, as in Plautus, and in Cicero to pursue, overtake, keep pace with.[2][6] From Terence it meant to follow in time, and of events to overtake a person, and in Cicero to follow in sequence and as a consequence, to ensue.[2] In Cicero it meant to grasp with the mind, to express fully in words, to aim at, achieve, win, and to equal someone.[2] From Plautus it meant to achieve, and to follow advice or an example.[2]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant to obtain, follow, pursue.[7] It survives in Italian conseguire and Spanish conseguir, and Medieval Latin cōnsecūtīvus from its participle gave English consecutive in the 1610s.[1][4]

Timeline

  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of following.[2][5]
  • 190–159 BC – Terence uses it of following in time.[2][5]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of a consequence and of achieving.[2][5]
  • 1610s – English consecutive is recorded.[4]

Meanings

Verb

  1. To follow; to attend; to pursue.[2]
  2. To overtake; to keep pace with.[2]
  3. To follow in time or sequence.[2]
  4. To follow as a consequence, ensue.[2]
  5. Of events, to overtake (a person).[2]
  6. To grasp; to express fully.[2]
  7. To aim at; to achieve; to succeed.[2]
  8. To gain, win.[2]
  9. To equal.[2]
  10. To follow (advice, an example).[2]

Word family

  • cōnsecūtiō
  • cōnsequentia
  • consequius
  • incōnsequēns
  • cōnsequēns

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ Thesaurus linguae Latinae (1900–), Leipzig: Teubner; Berlin: De Gruyter; open-access ed., Munich: Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
  4. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  5. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  6. ^ Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
  7. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
Cite this entry

“Consequor.” Etymologically, 16 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/consequor. Accessed 16 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·