Etymologically
Log in

convalesco

This is the current revision of this entry, as edited by bogdan on 19 October 2026 at 17:44. This address is a permanent link to this version.
Changes in this edit History

Pronunciation

  • Classical: [kɔn.waˈɫeːs.koː][1]
  • Ecclesiastical: [koɱ.vaˈlɛs.ko][1]

Forms

convalēscō (present infinitive convalēscere, perfect active convaluī, supine convalitum); third conjugation, no passive[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin con- + valēscō (“to grow strong”), the inchoative of valeō (“to be strong”).[2][1] De Vaan traces valeō to Proto-Italic *wal-ē- and Proto-Indo-European *h₂ulh₁-eh₁- (“to be strong”).[3] Cognate with Old Irish flaith (“rule”).[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

De Vaan dates it from Cato,[3] who says a man recovered and often did good service afterwards.[2]

Semantic evolution

It means to grow strong or thrive, as Varro's newborn animals kept by the fire until they gain strength, and of people or opinions to gain power, as Cicero's man who has grown so strong that the hope of resisting rests on one citizen.[2] Above all it means to recover from an illness, and of the mind to become calm again;[2] Lewis & Short call it very frequent and Classical.[4] The jurist Labeo uses it of a grant that becomes legally valid.[2] Church Latin glosses it “gain strength, convalesce”.[5] English convalesce is from the late 15th century.[6]

Timeline

  • 234–149 BC – Cato of a man who recovered.[2][3][7]
  • 116–27 BC – Varro of newborn animals gaining strength.[2][7]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero of a man growing powerful.[2][7]
  • late 15th century – Borrowed into English as convalesce.[6]

Meanings

Verb

  1. To grow strong, thrive; to gain power or influence.[2][4][1]
  2. To recover from illness, convalesce; of the mind, to become calm again.[2][4][5][1]
  3. (law) To become valid.[2]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f 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 de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
  4. ^ a b c Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  5. ^ a b Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
  6. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  7. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de