consort English · revision 1015

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈkɒnsɔːt/, /ˈkɑnsɔɹt/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|consort|t=colleague, partner]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate) [[bor|frm|consort|t=mate, partner]],^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate) [[der|la|cōnsors|t=sharer, partner]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) literally “having the same lot”,^(Etymonline) [[af|la|con-|sors|t1=with|t2=lot, fate]].^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A partner, companion or colleague (1419), a sense now obsolete.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ A ship sailing in company with another was a consort from 1602.^(OED 1989) The sense “husband or wife” dates from 1634,^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) and it is used in titles such as ''queen consort'' (1667) and ''prince consort'' (1837), the spouse of a reigning monarch.^(Etymonline) The verb, “to keep company”, appeared in 1588.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(MW Collegiate) The musical sense, a group of singers or instrumentalists, comes from confusion with [[concert]], with which the word has been mixed up in form and sense since the 16th century.^(Etymonline)^(RHWU)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1419 – a partner or colleague.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * 1584 – a company, a fellowship.^(OED 1989)^(MW Collegiate)

+ * 1588 – verb, to accompany; to associate.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(MW Collegiate)

+ * 1602 – a ship accompanying another.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1634 – a husband or wife.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)

+ * 1837 – ''prince consort''.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A husband or wife, especially the [[spouse]] of a reigning [[monarch]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A companion, associate or partner.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A ship accompanying another.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Association or partnership, as in the phrase ''to rule in consort with someone''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A group of musicians performing together, or a set of instruments of the same family, such as [[viol|alt=viols]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To keep company; to associate, as in ''consorting with criminals''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To be in accord; to [[harmonize]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[consorter]]

+ * [[prince consort]]

+ * [[queen consort]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[consortium]]

+ * [[sort]]

+ * [[concert]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}