Etymologically
Log in

consilium

Etymology and origin of the Latin word consilium

History Permalink
Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
Ennius
Ultimate origin
Proto-Indo-European (*selh₁-)

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [kõːˈsɪ.li.ũː][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [konˈsiː.li.um][1]

Forms

cōnsilium n (genitive cōnsiliī or cōnsilī); second declension[1]

Etymology

It is from cōnsulō “to consult” with the suffix -ium, as exilium beside exulō.[2][3][4] Cōnsulō goes back to Proto-Italic *kom-sel-e/o- (“to consult”), from Proto-Indo-European *s(e)lh₁- (“to take”).[4] Etymonline instead connects it with the root of calāre (“to summon”).[5]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler's first source is Ennius, who speaks of a man from whom peoples and kings seek counsel.[6][2] De Vaan dates it from Plautus.[4] Köbler dates Ennius 204–169 BC.[6]

Semantic evolution

It meant debate, deliberation, with phrases such as cōnsilium inīre “to take counsel”, and advice, counsel, as Plautus' nec tū ut faciās cōnsilium dabō.[2] By metonymy it was an advisory body, a council, or an adviser, as Catiline's council.[2] It also meant a decision or measure, an intention or purpose, as Plautus' cōnsilium est ita facere “I mean to do so”, and deliberate choice, with cōnsiliō “on purpose”.[2] Lewis and Short call it very frequent in all periods, and distinguish it from concilium, an assembly.[7]

In Medieval Latin it was the counsel a vassal owes his lord, and in Poland also a town council and a legal defence.[8][9] It survives in Italian consiglio and Spanish consejo.[1] Through Old French counseil it is the source of English counsel, recorded about 1200.[5]

Timeline

  • 204–169 BC – Ennius uses it of counsel sought by kings.[2][6]
  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of advice and intention.[2][6]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of a council.[2][6]
  • c. 1200 – English counsel is recorded.[5]

Meanings

Noun

  1. Deliberation, debate.[2]
  2. Advice, counsel.[2]
  3. A council; an adviser.[2]
  4. A decision, resolution.[2]
  5. An intention, purpose, plan.[2]
  6. Deliberate choice, cōnsiliō, on purpose.[2]
  7. (Medieval Latin) The counsel owed by a vassal.[8]

Word family

  • cōnsiliārius
  • cōnsilior
  • cōnsiliōsus

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 l m n Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
  4. ^ a b c de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
  5. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  6. ^ a b c d e Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  7. ^ Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  8. ^ a b Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
  9. ^ Lexicon mediae et infimae Latinitatis Polonorum (1953–), Kraków: Instytut Języka Polskiego PAN; electronic ed. elexicon.scriptores.pl
Cite this entry

“Consilium.” Etymologically, 16 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/consilium. Accessed 16 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·