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consulto

Etymology and origin of the Latin word consulto

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consulto1 deliberately

Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
Cicero
Ultimate origin
Latin (cōnsulō)

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [kõːˈsʊɫ.toː][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [konˈsul.to][1]

Forms

cōnsultō (comparative cōnsultius, superlative cōnsultissimē)[1]

Etymology

The adverb is formed from cōnsultus, participle of cōnsulō “to deliberate”, with the adverbial ending ⟨-ō⟩.[2][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Gaffiot and the OLD cite Cicero, Dē officiīs, and Caesar.[3][2] Köbler dates Cicero 81–43 BC.[4]

Semantic evolution

It meant of set purpose, by design, deliberately, as in Cicero and Caesar.[2][3]

Timeline

  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it.[3][4]
  • c. 50 BC – Caesar uses it.[3][4]

Meanings

Adverb

  1. Deliberately, on purpose.[2]

consulto2 to deliberate, consult

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

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [kõːˈsʊɫ.toː][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [konˈsul.to][1]

Forms

cōnsultō (present infinitive cōnsultāre, perfect active cōnsultāvī, supine cōnsultātum); first conjugation[1]

Etymology

The verb is the frequentative of cōnsulō “to deliberate, consult”, formed with -tō.[2][1][5] De Vaan reconstructs ⟨cōnsulō⟩ as Proto-Italic *kom-sel-e/o- (“to consult”), from Proto-Indo-European *selh₁- (“to take”).[6]

Earliest recorded meaning

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

Semantic evolution

It meant to deliberate, debate, discuss, as in Plautus and Caesar's dē bellō cōnsultāre; to discuss a question; to apply to someone for advice, consult, as in Plautus; and to take thought, provide for.[2][3]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant to weigh, ponder, deliberate.[7] Through French consulter it gave English consult in the 1520s.[5] It survives in Italian consultare and Spanish consultar.[1]

Timeline

  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it.[2][4]
  • c. 50 BC – Caesar uses it of debating war.[3][4]
  • 1520s – English consult is recorded.[5]

Meanings

Verb

  1. To deliberate, debate.[2]
  2. To consult, ask advice of.[2]
  3. To take thought, provide for.[2]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b c d e f g Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
  4. ^ a b c d e f Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  5. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  6. ^ de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
  7. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
Cite this entry

“Consulto.” Etymologically, 16 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/consulto. Accessed 16 Oct. 2026.

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