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constituo

Etymology and origin of the Latin word constituo

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

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [kõːˈstɪ.tu.oː][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [konˈstiː.tu.o][1]

Forms

cōnstituō (present infinitive cōnstituere, perfect active cōnstituī, supine cōnstitūtum); third conjugation[1]

Etymology

It is from con- and statuō “to set up”.[2][1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citation is from Plautus, of arranging by agreement.[2] Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.[4]

Semantic evolution

In Plautus it meant to arrange by agreement, appoint a time or place.[2] In Cicero it meant to set up, erect, to station troops, to put the state on a firm footing, to make someone something, to bring about a state of affairs, to decree, fix a price, to appoint, to start legal proceedings, to set out a case, and to resolve on a course of action.[2] In Lucretius it meant to make up, form, of component parts.[2] Döderlein explains that dēstināre is forming a resolution in the mind, dēcernere and statuere as a political act.[5]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant to set, determine, make, appoint, constitute, establish.[6] It was borrowed into Italian costituire and French constituer, and its participle cōnstitūtus gave English constitute in the mid-15th century.[1][3]

Timeline

  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of arranging.[2][4]
  • 96–55 BC – Lucretius uses it of forming.[2][4]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of establishing and deciding.[2][4]
  • mid-15th century – English constitute is recorded.[3]

Meanings

Verb

  1. To set up, erect; to station.[2]
  2. To make up, form, constitute.[2]
  3. To establish; to make (someone something).[2]
  4. To decree, fix; to appoint.[2]
  5. To institute (proceedings).[2]
  6. To set out (a case); to establish by argument.[2]
  7. To resolve; to arrange, agree on.[2]

Word family

  • cōnstitūtiōnārius
  • cōnstitūtōrius
  • statuō
  • English constitute

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 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. ^ Döderlein, Ludwig (1874), Döderlein’s Hand-book of Latin Synonymes, tr. H. H. Arnold, Andover: W. F. Draper
  6. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
Cite this entry

“Constituo.” Etymologically, 16 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/constituo. Accessed 16 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·