Etymologically
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consuesco

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Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [kõːˈsʷeːs.koː][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [konˈsʷɛs.ko][1]

Forms

cōnsuēscō (present infinitive cōnsuēscere, perfect active cōnsuēvī, supine cōnsuētum); third conjugation[1]

Etymology

It is from con- and suēscō “to become accustomed”.[2][1]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's first citations are from Plautus, of becoming used to something and of intimacy.[2] Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.[3]

Semantic evolution

It meant to become accustomed, get used to, and in the perfect cōnsuēvī to be accustomed, be in the habit of, as in Plautus.[2] Transitively it meant to accustom, train, as Lucretius' exercised arms and Columella's young ox trained to the plough.[2][4] It meant to familiarize oneself with, and with cum to have sexual relations with.[2] Contracted forms such as cōnsuērunt are frequent in the perfect.[2][5] Döderlein says soleō is used of events and actions, cōnsuēvisse only of a person's habitual action.[6]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant to be accustomed, be wont.[7] Its noun cōnsuētūdō is the source of English custom.[8]

Timeline

  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of habits and intimacy.[2][3]
  • 96–55 BC – Lucretius uses it transitively.[2][3]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of forming a habit.[2][3]

Meanings

Verb

  1. To become accustomed, (perfect) to be accustomed.[2]
  2. To accustom, train.[2]
  3. To form a habit, (perfect) to be in the habit (of).[2]
  4. To familiarize oneself with.[2]
  5. To be intimate (with).[2]

Word family

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. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  4. ^ Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
  5. ^ Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  6. ^ Döderlein, Ludwig (1874), Döderlein’s Hand-book of Latin Synonymes, tr. H. H. Arnold, Andover: W. F. Draper
  7. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
  8. ^ Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com