consist

Where does the word "consist" come from? It comes from Latin sistere, passing through Latin before entering English (1500s).

Consist’s story begins in Latin: sistere meant “to stand, to place.” To stand, to place, combined with com- (together). Within Latin, it grew into consistere by ancient. To stand together, to exist, to be composed of, from com- and sistere. It reached English by 1500s as consist. Settled as the English word for being made up of particular parts. Today, consist means to be composed or made up of particular parts or elements.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient sistere "to stand, to place", to stand, to place, combined with com- (together).
2. Stage 2 · Latin · ancient consistere "to stand together, to be composed of", to stand together, to exist, to be composed of, from com- and sistere.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1500s consist "to be made up of particular parts or elements", settled as the English word for being made up of particular parts.