Etymologically
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consisto

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Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [kõːˈsɪs.toː][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [konˈsis.to][1]

Forms

cōnsistō (present infinitive cōnsistere, perfect active cōnstitī, supine cōnstitum); third conjugation, impersonal in the passive[1] Its perfect forms cannot be told apart from those of cōnstō.[2]

Etymology

It is from con- “together” and sistō “to stand, set”.[2][1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citations are from Plautus, of coming to a halt and of coming about.[2] Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.[4]

Semantic evolution

It meant to stop moving, halt, as in Plautus, and in Cicero to make a stay, to go no further, to dwell on a topic in speech, and to stand still.[2] In Ennius it meant to take up a position, especially in an assembly, in Virgil to settle, and in Cicero to stay behind and to reside.[2] In Lucretius cōnsistere ex meant to consist of a material, and in Cicero cōnsistere in to rest on, depend on.[2] In Virgil it meant to stand upright, in Cicero to be established, and in Plautus to come about, arise.[2]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant to stand together, stand firm, continue, become set.[5] It was borrowed into Italian consistere and Spanish consistir, and through French it gave English consist in the 1520s.[1][3]

Timeline

  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of halting.[2][4]
  • 204–169 BC – Ennius uses it of taking a position.[2][4]
  • 96–55 BC – Lucretius uses it of consisting of.[2][4]
  • 1520s – English consist is recorded.[3]

Meanings

Verb

  1. To halt, stop; to make a stay.[2]
  2. To dwell (on a topic); to stand still.[2]
  3. To take up a position; to settle; to stay.[2]
  4. cōnsistere ex, to consist of.[2]
  5. cōnsistere in, to rest on, depend on.[2]
  6. To stand upright; to be established; to arise.[2]

Word family

  • cōnsistiō
  • cōnsistōrium
  • constitiō

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 Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  4. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  5. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson