Etymologically
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consolor

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Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [kõːˈsoː.ɫɔr][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [konˈsɔː.lor][1]

Forms

cōnsōlor (present infinitive cōnsōlārī, perfect active cōnsōlātus sum); first conjugation, deponent[1]

Etymology

It is from con- and sōlor “to comfort”.[2][1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citations are from Plautus, of comforting.[2] Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.[4]

Semantic evolution

It meant to comfort, console someone, as in Plautus, and of circumstances to be a consolation or a compensation.[2] In Cicero it meant to allay grief.[2]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant to comfort, console, encourage.[5] It survives in Italian consolare, French consoler and Spanish consolar, and through French it gave English console in the 1690s.[1][3]

Timeline

  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of comforting.[2][4]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of allaying grief.[2][4]
  • 1690s – English console is recorded.[3]

Meanings

Verb

  1. To comfort, console.[2]
  2. To be a consolation; to compensate for.[2]
  3. To allay (grief).[2]

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 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 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