consul Latin · revision 665

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [ˈkõː.sʊɫ]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈkɔn.sul]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''cōnsul''' ''m'' (genitive cōnsulis); third declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is probably a root noun formed to the verb [[consulo|alt=cōnsulere]], which de Vaan takes to have meant “to get together, deliberate”, from [[itc-pro|*kom-sel-|t=adviser]] and [[ine-pro|*s(e)lh₁-|t=to take]].^(de Vaan 2008)^(OLD 2012) The verb seems to be the original, since a verb made from the noun would be *cōnsulāre, and [[consilium|alt=cōnsilium]] was derived from the noun.^(de Vaan 2008) An alternative derivation from *kom-sed- “sitting together” is attractive in meaning but formally unlikely.^(de Vaan 2008) The old spellings [[m|la|consol]] and [[m|la|cosol]] appear in early inscriptions.^(OLD 2012)^(Georges 1913) Roman writers explained the title from consulting the people and the Senate.^(OLD 2012)^(TLL)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Köbler dates it from Varro,^(Köbler 2010) but it is much older: the Scipio epitaphs have ''consol'' and ''cosol'', and Ennius writes ''Quintus pater quartum fit consul'' “Quintus' father becomes [[m|en|consul]] for the fourth time”.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It was the title of the two highest magistrates of the Roman Republic, elected each year, and was used loosely for a consul-elect or a proconsul, ''pro consule'' meant a proconsul governing a province.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) Since the consuls gave their names to the year, ''Pisone Gabinio consulibus'' meant “in the consulship of Piso and Gabinius”, and Tibullus calls for Falernian wine “of an old consul”.^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016) It was also the title of the chief magistrate in other towns.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ After the annual consulship ended in 534 it survived as a hereditary title in some Roman families and as a title of papal officials, and in medieval towns ''consules'' were members of the town council.^(Niermeyer 1976)^(Köbler 2010) English borrowed it in the late 14th century, and its modern sense of a state's agent abroad began with representatives chosen by communities of merchants living in foreign ports.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 3rd century BC – The Scipio epitaphs write it ''consol'' and ''cosol''.^(OLD 2012)

+ * 204–169 BC – Ennius mentions a fourth consulship.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero says he was elected consul at his first attempt.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 534 AD – The annual consulship comes to an end.^(Niermeyer 1976)

+ * late 14th century – English borrows it as [[en|consul]].^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A [[m|en|consul]], one of the two chief magistrates of Rome; loosely, a consul-elect or [[m|en|proconsul]].^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # ''pro consule'': a proconsul.^(OLD 2012)

+ # The chief magistrate of another state or town.^(OLD 2012)

+ # (in dating) The consul as eponym of the year.^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' A hereditary title; a papal official; a member of a town council.^(Niermeyer 1976)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[cōnsulāris]]

+ * [[cōnsulāritās]]

+ * [[cōnsulāriter]]

+ * [[cōnsulārius]]

+ * [[cōnsulātus]]

+ * [[prōcōnsul]]

+ * [[prōcōnsulāris]]

+ * [[prōcōnsulātus]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[cōnsultātiō]]

+ * [[cōnsultātor]]

+ * [[cōnsultē]]

+ * [[cōnsultō]]

+ * [[cōnsultum]]

+ * [[cōnsultus]]

+ * [[cōnsulō]]

+ * [[cōnsilium]]

+ * [[en|consul]]

+ * [[en|counsel]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}