console

Where does the word "console" come from? It comes from Latin solari, passing through Latin and Old French before entering English (1600s).

Console’s story begins in Latin: solari meant “to comfort, to soothe.” To comfort, to soothe, combined with com- (thoroughly). Within Latin, it grew into consolari by ancient. To comfort greatly, from com- and solari. From there it passed into Old French as consoler by medieval. Carried into French for offering comfort to someone in distress. It reached English by 1600s as console. Settled as the English word for comforting someone at a time of grief or disappointment. Today, console means to comfort someone who is grieving or disappointed.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient solari "to comfort, to soothe", to comfort, to soothe, combined with com- (thoroughly).
2. Stage 2 · Latin · ancient consolari "to comfort greatly", to comfort greatly, from com- and solari.
3. Stage 3 · Old French · medieval consoler "to offer comfort to someone in distress", carried into French for offering comfort to someone in distress.
4. Stage 4 · English · 1600s console "to comfort someone at a time of grief or disappointment", settled as the English word for comforting someone at a time of grief or disappointment.