Drag to pan · scroll to zoom
Drag to rotate
Tracing “”…
Where does the word "consult" come from? It comes from Latin consultare, passing through French before entering English (1520s).
Read the full story
Where does the word "consult" come from? It comes from Latin consultare, passing through French before entering English (1520s).
Consult’s story begins in Latin: consultare meant “to deliberate.” A frequentative of 'consulere', to take counsel. By 1500s, the word had taken hold in French as consulter. Latin 'consulere senatum' meant to gather the Senate to seek its advice. It reached English by 1520s as consult. 'consultant' dates from the 1600s. Today, consult means to seek advice from.
- Stage 1 · Latin · ancient consultare "to deliberate", a frequentative of 'consulere', to take counsel.
- Stage 2 · French · 1500s consulter "to consult", Latin 'consulere senatum' meant to gather the Senate to seek its advice.
- Stage 3 · English · 1520s consult "to deliberate", 'consultant' dates from the 1600s.