Etymology Map
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Consult

3 stages from Latin to English.

Today it means to seek advice from

Where does the word "consult" come from? It comes from Latin consultare, passing through French before entering English (1520s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
consultare
Latin · ancient
"to deliberate"
a frequentative of 'consulere', to take counsel
2
Stage 2 of 3
consulter
French · 1500s
"to consult"
Latin 'consulere senatum' meant to gather the Senate to seek its advice
3
Stage 3 of 3
consult
English · 1520s
"to deliberate"
'consultant' dates from the 1600s
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Read the full story

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.