Etymology dictionary

conceive (v.) — conducive (adj.)

conceive (v.)

late 13c., conceiven, "take (seed) into the womb, become pregnant," from stem of Old French conceveir (Modern French concevoir), from Latin concipere (past participle conceptus) "to take in and hold; become pregnant" (source also of Spanish concebir, Portuguese concebre, Italian concepere), from con-, here perhaps an intensive prefix (see con-), + combining form of capere "to take" (from PIE root *kap- "to grasp").

Meaning "take into the mind, form a correct notion of" is from mid-14c., that of "form as a general notion in the mind" is from late 14c., figurative senses also found in the Old French and Latin words. Related: Conceived; conceiving.

conceivable (adj.)

"capable of being thought or supposed," mid-15c., from conceive + -able. Related: Conceivably; conceivability; conceivableness.

concent (n.)

"harmony, concord of sounds," 1580s, from Latin concentus "a singing together, harmony," from concinere "to sing or sound together," from con- "with, together" (see con-) + canere "to sing" (from PIE root *kan- "to sing"). Often misspelled consent or confused with that word.

concentrate (v.)

1630s, "to bring or come to a common center," from concenter (1590s), from Italian concentrare, from assimilated form of Latin com "with, together" (see con-) + centrum "center" (see center (n.)).

Meaning "condense" is from 1680s; that of "intensify the action of" is from 1758. Sense of "mentally focus" is from 1860s, on the notion of "concentrate the mind or mental powers." Related: Concentrated; concentrating.

concentric (adj.)

"having a common center," c. 1400, from Old French concentrique, from Medieval Latin concentricus, from assimilated form of com "with, together" (see con-) + Latin centrum "circle, center" (see center (n.)).

concentration (n.)

1630s, "action of bringing to a center, act of collecting or combining into or about a central point," noun of action from concentrate (v.). Meaning "a mass so collected" is from 1670s; that of "voluntary continuous focusing of mental activity" is from 1825, in phrenology.

Concentration camp is from 1901, originally "compound for noncombatants in a war zone," a controversial idea in the second Boer War (1899-1902). The term emerged with a bad odor.

But it also was used 1902 in reference to then-current U.S. policies in the Philippines, and retroactively in reference to Spanish policies in Cuba during the 1896-98 insurrection there. The phrase was used domestically in the U.S. during the Spanish-American war but only in reference to designated rendezvous points for troops headed overseas. In reference to prisons for dissidents and minorities in Nazi Germany from 1934, in Soviet Russia from 1935.

concentrate (n.)

"that which has been reduced to a state of purity," 1883, from concentrate (adj.) "reduced to a pure or intense state" (1640s), from concentrate (v.).

concentual (adj.)

"harmonious," 1785, from stem of Latin concentus "harmony" (see concent) + -al (1). Related: Concentually.

concept (n.)

"a general notion, the immediate object of a thought," 1550s, from Medieval Latin conceptum "draft, abstract," in classical Latin "(a thing) conceived," from concep-, past-participle stem of concipere "to take in and hold; become pregnant," from con-, here perhaps an intensive prefix (see con-), + combining form of capere "to take" (from PIE root *kap- "to grasp"). In some 16c. cases a refashioning of conceit, perhaps to avoid negative connotations that had begun to cling to that word.

conception (n.)

early 14c., "act of conceiving in the womb," from Old French concepcion (Modern French conception) "conception, grasp, comprehension," from Latin conceptionem (nominative conceptio) "a comprehending, conception," noun of action from past-participle stem of concipere "to take in and hold; become pregnant," from con-, here perhaps an intensive prefix (see con-), + combining form of capere "to take" (from PIE root *kap- "to grasp").

Originally of pregnancy (also with reference to Conception Day in the Church calendar); mental sense of "process of forming concepts, act or power of conceiving in the mind" is from late 14c. Meaning "that which is conceived in the mind" is from 1520s; that of "general notion" is from 1785.

conceptive (adj.)

1630s, "capable of conceiving mentally;" 1640s, "capable of conceiving physically;" from Latin conceptivus, from concept-, past participle stem of concipere "to take in" (see conceive). Shakespeare used conceptious "fruitful."

conceptualism (n.)

1837, "doctrine that the meaning of a class-name can be fully represented in thought or actually present in consciousness" (opposed to, or a compromise between, realism and nominalism), from conceptual + -ism. Related: Conceptualist (1785); conceptualistic.

conceptual (adj.)

"pertaining to mental conception," 1820 (there is an isolated use from 1662), from Medieval Latin conceptualis, from Latin conceptus "a collecting, gathering, conceiving," past participle of concipere "to take in" (see conceive). Perhaps it emerged to go with the distinctly mental sense of conception, as it seems rarely, if ever, to have been used in the physical sense. Conceptional "pertaining to or having the nature of (physical) conception" is from 1832.

conceptualize (v.)

"to form an idea of," 1873, from conceptual + -ize. Related: Conceptualized; conceptualizing.

conceptually (adv.)

"as a concept," 1842, from conceptual + -ly (2).

conceptualization (n.)

"act or process of forming an idea of," 1866; see conceptual + -ization. Perhaps based on French conceptualisation (1862).

conceptualisation (n.)

chiefly British English spelling of conceptualization; for spelling, see -ize.

conceptualise (v.)

chiefly British English spelling of conceptualize; for suffix, see -ize. Related: Conceptualised; conceptualising.

concerned (adj.)

1650s, "uneasy, troubled, anxious," past-participle adjective from concern (v.). Also see consarned. Related: Concernedly.

concern (v.)

early 15c., of persons, "to perceive, distinguish;" also, of things, "to refer to, relate to, pertain to," from Old French concerner (15c.) and directly from Medieval Latin concernere "concern, touch, belong to," figurative use of Late Latin concernere "to sift, mix as in a sieve," from assimilated form of Latin com "with, together" (see con-) + cernere "to sift," hence "perceive, comprehend" (from PIE root *krei- "to sieve," thus "discriminate, distinguish").

Apparently the sense of the first element shifted to intensive in Medieval Latin. From late 15c. as "to affect the interest of, be of importance to;" hence the meaning "to worry, disturb, make uneasy or anxious" (17c.). Reflexive use "busy, occupy, engage" ("concern oneself") is from 1630s. Related: Concerned; concerning.

Used imperatively from 1803 (compare similar use of confound); often rendered in dialect as consarn (1832), probably a euphemism for damn (compare concerned). Letter opening to whom it may concern attested by 1740.

concern (n.)

1580s, "regard, reference" (a sense now obsolete), from concern (v.). Meaning "that which relates or pertains to one" is from 1670s. Meaning "solicitous regard" is from 1690s. Sense of "an establishment for the transaction of business" is from 1680s.; colloquial sense of "a cumbersome or complicated material object" is from 1824. As nouns in 17c. concernance, concernancy, concernment also were used.

concert (n.)

1660s, "agreement of two or more in design or plan; accord, harmony," from French concert (16c.), from Italian concerto "concert, harmony," from concertare "bring into agreement," apparently from Latin concertare "to contend with zealously, contest, dispute, debate" from assimilated form of com "with" (see con-) + certare "to contend, strive," frequentative of certus, variant past participle of cernere "separate, distinguish, decide" (from PIE root *krei- "to sieve," thus "discriminate, distinguish").

The proposed sense evolution between Latin ("to contend with") and medieval Italian ("bring into agreement") seems extreme and is difficult to explain. Perhaps the shift is from "to strive against" to "to strive alongside" (compare English fight with), or perhaps it is via the notion of "confer, arrange by conference, debate for the sake of agreement." Some have suggested the sense shifted through confusion of Latin concertus with consertus, past participle of concerere "to join, fit, unite."

Sense of "public musical performance," usually of a series of separate pieces, is from 1680s, from Italian (Klein suggests Latin concentare "to sing together," from con- + cantare "to sing," as the source of the Italian word in the musical sense). The general sense of "any harmonious agreement or orderly union" is from 1796. Concert-master "first violinist of an orchestra" is from 1815, translating German Konzertmeister.

concerted (adj.)

"mutually agreed upon," 1716, past-participle adjective from concert (v.).

concert (v.)

1690s, "to contrive, adjust;" 1707, "to contrive and arrange mutually," from French concerter and directly from Italian concertare "to bring into agreement," apparently from Latin concertare "to contend with zealously, contest, dispute, debate" from assimilated form of com "with" (see con-) + certare "to contend, strive," frequentative of certus, variant past participle of cernere "separate, distinguish, decide" (from PIE root *krei- "to sieve," thus "discriminate, distinguish"). Related: Concerted; concerting.

concertina (n.)

"portable, accordion-like musical instrument," 1835, from concert + fem. ending -ina. Invented 1829 by English inventor Professor Charles Wheatstone (who also invented the stereoscope and the Wheatstone bridge). Concertina wire attested by 1917, so called from similarity to the musical instrument.

concerto (n.)

"composition for two or more solo instruments, or one principal instrument accompanied by a large or small orchestra," 1730, from Italian concerto (see concert (n.)). Concerto grosso is attested from 1724. Diminutive concertino is from 1857; earlier it meant "the principal instruments in a concerto or concertante" (1819).

concession (n.)

mid-15c., "act of granting or yielding" (especially in argumentation), from Old French concession (14c.) or directly from Latin concessionem (nominative concessio) "an allowing, conceding," noun of action from past-participle stem of concedere "to give way, yield," figuratively "agree, consent, give precedence," from con-, here perhaps an intensive prefix (see con-), + cedere "to go, grant, give way" (from PIE root *ked- "to go, yield").

From 1610s as "the thing or point yielded." Meaning "property granted by government" is from 1650s. Sense of "grant of privilege by a government to individuals to engage in some enterprise" is from 1856, from a sense in French. Hence the meaning "grant or lease of a small part of a property for some specified purpose" (1897), the sense in concession stand "snack bar, refreshment stand."

concessive (adj.)

"of the nature of or containing a concession," 1640s (implied in concessively), from Late Latin concessivus, from concess-, past-participle stem of Latin concedere "to give way, yield" (see concede).

concessionaire (n.)

"person to whom a privilege or concession has been granted," 1848, from French concessionaire "person to whom a concession has been granted," from concession, from Latin concessionem "an allowing" (see concession). Native form concessionary is attested from 1854; American English concessioner is from 1899.

conch (n.)

"large sea-shell," originally of bivalves, early 15c., from Latin concha "shellfish, mollusk," from Greek konkhē "mussel, cockle," also metaphoric of shell-like objects ("hollow of the ear; knee-cap; brain-pan; case round a seal; knob of a shield," etc.), from PIE root *konkho- (source also of Sanskrit sankha- "mussel") or else from a Pre-Greek word.

Since 18c. used of large gastropods. As a name for natives of Florida Keys (originally especially poor whites) it is attested from at least 1833, from their use of the flesh of the conch as food; the preferred pronunciation there ("kongk") preserves the classical one. Related: Conchate; conchiform; conchoidal.

conchology (n.)

"the science of shells and shellfish," 1776, from conch + -ology. Related: Conchologist; conchological.

concierge (n.)

1640s, from French concierge "caretaker, doorkeeper of a hotel, apartment house, prison, etc., porter" (12c.), of uncertain origin. Perhaps from Vulgar Latin *conservius, from Latin conservus "fellow slave," from assimilated form of com "with, together" (see con-) + servius "slave" (see serve (v.)). In France, formerly the title of a high royal official. Related: Conciergerie (c. 1600).

conciliation (n.)

1540s, "act of converting from jealousy or suspicion and gaining favor or good will," from French conciliation, from Latin conciliationem (nominative conciliatio) "a connection, union, bond," figuratively "a making friendly, gaining over," noun of action from past-participle stem of conciliare "to bring together, unite in feelings, make friendly" (see conciliate).

conciliate (v.)

"overcome distrust or hostility of by soothing and pacifying," 1540s, from Latin conciliatus, past participle of conciliare "to bring together, unite in feelings, make friendly," from concilium "a meeting, a gathering of people," from assimilated form of com "together, together with" (see com-) + PIE *kal-yo-, suffixed form of root *kele- (2) "to shout" (the notion is of "a calling together"). Related: Conciliated; conciliating; conciliary. The earlier verb was Middle English concile "to reconcile" (late 14c.).

conciliatory (adj.)

"tending to conciliate," 1570s, from conciliate + -ory. Related: Conciliator "one who conciliates" (1570s). Conciliative "designed to produce conciliation" is attested from 1817.

concinnity (n.)

"state of being well put-together, skillful and harmonious fitting together of parts," 1530s, from Latin concinnitas, from past-participle stem of concinnare "to make ready, make into," from concinnus "set in order, neat," from assimilated form of com "with" (see con-) + second element of uncertain origin. Related: Concinnate; concinnous.

concise (adj.)

"comprehending much in few words," 1580s, from Latin concisus "cut off, brief," past participle of concidere "to cut off, cut up, cut through, cut to pieces," from assimilated form of com-, here perhaps an intensive prefix (see con-), + caedere "to cut" (from PIE root *kae-id- "to strike"). Related: Concisely.

concision (n.)

late 14c., "a cutting away, mutilation," also, from 16c., "circumcision," from Late Latin concisionem (nominative concisio) "a separation into divisions, a mutilation," literally "a cutting up," noun of action from past participle stem of Latin concidere "to cut off, cut up, cut through, cut to pieces," from assimilated form of com-, here perhaps an intensive prefix (see con-), + caedere "to cut" (from PIE root *kae-id- "to strike"). From 18c. it began to be used in the sense of conciseness (q.v.).

In Philippians iii.2 it translates Greek katatomē, a contemptuous substitution for the usual peritomē "circumcision," in reference to the Judaizing teachers who taught that Christian converts must first be circumcised.

conciseness (n.)

"brevity of statement, expression of much in few words," 1650s, from concise + -ness.

conclave (n.)

late 14c., "a place where cardinals meet to elect a pope," also "the assembly of cardinals to elect a pope," from Italian conclave, from Latin conclave "a private room, chamber suite," probably originally "a room which may be locked," from assimilated form of com "with, together" (see con-) + clavis "a key" (from PIE root *klau- "hook"). Extended sense of "any private assembly" is by 1560s.

conclude (v.)

early 14c., "confute or frustrate an opponent in argument, end an argument by winning it," from Latin concludere "to shut up, enclose," from assimilated form of com "together" (see con-) + -cludere, combining form of claudere "to shut" (see close (v.)).

Meanings "reach a mental determination, deduce; infer or determine by reason" are from late 14c., a sense also in Latin. General sense of "bring to an end, finish, terminate," and intransitive sense of "come to an end" are from late 14c. Meaning "settle, arrange, determine finally" is from early 15c. Sometimes in Middle English it was used in the etymological sense, "shut in" (late 14c.). Related: Concluded; concluding.

conclusion (n.)

late 14c., "deduction or inference reached by reasoning, result of a discussion or examination," from Old French conclusion "conclusion, result, outcome," from Latin conclusionem (nominative conclusio), noun of action from past-participle stem of concludere "to shut up, enclose" (see conclude).

Also, from late 14c. "the end, termination, final part; closing passages of a speech or writing; final result, outcome." For foregone conclusion, see forego.

conclusive (adj.)

1610s, "occurring at the end," from French conclusif, from Late Latin conclusivus, from conclus-, past participle stem of Latin concludere "to shut up, enclose," from assimilated form of com "together" (see con-) + -cludere, combining form of claudere "to shut" (see close (v.)). Meaning "definitive, decisive, convincing, being so forcible as not to admit of contradiction" (on the notion of "leading to a logical conclusion," and thus putting an end to debate) is from 1640s. Related: Conclusiveness.

conclusively (adv.)

1550s, "in conclusion," from conclusive + -ly (2). Meaning "decisively" is recorded from 1748.

conclusory (adj.)

"pertaining to a conclusion," 1807, from Latin stem of conclude + -ory. Probably coined because in conclusive the "decisive" sense had come to predominate.

concoction (n.)

1530s, "digestion" (a sense now obsolete), from Latin concoctionem (nominative concoctio) "digestion," noun of action from past participle stem of concoquere "to digest; to boil together, prepare; to consider well," from assimilated form of com "together" (see con-) + coquere "to cook, prepare food, ripen, digest," from PIE root *pekw- "to cook, ripen."

Meaning "that which is concocted" is by 1850, figurative; meaning "a devising, a planning, act of preparing and combining the materials of anything" is from 1823.

concoct (v.)

1530s, "to digest" (a sense now obsolete), from Latin concoctus, past participle of concoquere "to digest; to boil together, prepare; to consider well," from assimilated form of com "together" (see con-) + coquere "to cook, prepare food, ripen, digest," from PIE root *pekw- "to cook, ripen."

Meaning "to prepare an edible thing, combine and prepare the elements of" is from 1670s, metaphorically extended beyond cooking to "devise, plan" by 1792. Related: Concocted; concocting.

concomitant (adj.)

"accompanying, conjoined with, concurrent, going together," c. 1600, from French concomitant, from Late Latin concomitantem (nominative concomitans), present participle of concomitari "accompany, attend," from assimilated form of com "with, together" (see con-) + comitari "join as a companion," from comes (genitive comitis) "companion," "companion, attendant," the Roman term for a provincial governor, from com "with" (see com-) + stem of ire "to go" (from PIE root *ei- "to go"). Related: Concomitantly; concomitance (1530s).

concomitance (n.)

"a being together or in connection with another," 1530s, from French concomitance or directly from Medieval Latin concomitantia, from Late Latin concomitantem (see concomitant). In theology, "the coexistence of the blood and body of Christ in the bread of the Eucharist." Related: Concomitancy.

concordant (adj.)

"agreeing, agreeable, harmonious," late 15c. of persons, 1510s of things, 1550s of music, from French concordant, from Latin concordantem, present participle of concordare "to agree, be of one mind," from concors "of the same mind" (see concord (n.)). Related: Concordantly.

concord (n.)

early 14c., "agreement between persons, union in opinions or sentiment, state of mutual friendship, amiability," from Old French concorde (12c.) "concord, harmony, agreement, treaty," from Latin concordia "agreement, union," from concors (genitive concordis) "of the same mind," literally "hearts together," from assimilated form of com "with, together" (see con-) + cor (genitive cordis) "heart," from PIE root *kerd- "heart." Related: Concordial.

Meaning "a compact or agreement" is from late 15c. The village in Massachusetts (site of one of the opening battles of the Revolutionary War, April 19, 1775) was named in 1635, perhaps in reference to the peaceful dealings between the settlers and the local native tribes. The capital of New Hampshire was renamed for the Massachusetts town in 1763 (formerly it had been Pennycook, from a mangling of a native Algonquian word meaning "descent").

The Concord grape was so called by 1853, from the Massachusetts town, where it was bred for the local climate and promoted by farmer Ephraim Wales Bull. It is mentioned, but not named in the "New England Farmer" of Oct. 26, 1850, in its acknowledgements:

Concorde (n.)

supersonic passenger airliner operating from 1976 to 2003, from French concorde, literally "harmony, agreement" (see concord (n.)), reflecting the Anglo-French collaborative agreement that produced it.

concordance (n.)

late 14c., "alphabetical arrangement of the important words in a major written work" (especially the Bible, later also of Shakespeare's plays), from Old French concordance (12c.) "agreement, harmony" and directly from Medieval Latin concordantia, from concordantem (nominative concordans), from Latin concordare "be of one mind," from concors "of the same mind" (see concord (n.)).

Originally a citation of parallel passages in the books of the Bible. In Middle English also "state of mutual affection" (late 14c.); "fact of agreeing" (mid-15c.). Related: Concordancy.

concord (v.)

late 14c., "reconcile, bring into harmony" (transitive); c. 1400, "agree, cooperate," from Old French concorder and directly from Latin concordare "be of one mind," from concors "of the same mind" (see concord (n.)). Related: Concorded; concording.

concordat (n.)

"agreement between church and state on a mutual matter," 1610s, from French concordat (16c.), from Medieval Latin concordatum, noun use of Latin concordatum, neuter past participle of concordare "to agree," from concors (genitive concordis) "of one mind" (see concord (n.)).

concourse (n.)

late 14c., "a moving, running, or flowing together; a gathering or accumulation," from Old French concours and directly from Latin concursus "a running together," from past participle of concurrere "to run together, assemble hurriedly; clash, fight," from assimilated form of com "together" (see con-) + currere "to run" (from PIE root *kers- "to run").

From early 15c. as "an assembly, a throng." Sense of "open space in a built-up place," especially a gathering place in a railway station, etc., is American English, 1862. From French, English took concours d'lgance "a parade of vehicles in which the entrants are judged according to the elegance of their appearance" [OED], by 1923.

concrete (adj.)

late 14c., "actual, solid; particular, individual; denoting a substance," from Latin concretus "condensed, hardened, stiff, curdled, congealed, clotted," figuratively "thick; dim," literally "grown together;" past participle of concrescere "to grow together," from assimilated form of com "together" (see con-) + crescere "to grow" (from PIE root *ker- (2) "to grow").

A logicians' term (opposed to abstract) until meaning began to expand 1600s (see concrete (n.)). Concrete poetry (1958), which depends much on the form or shape of its printing, is translated from terms coined independently in mid-1950s in Brazil (poesia concreta) and Germany (die konkrete Dichtung).

concretize (v.)

"to render (the abstract) concrete," 1826, from concrete (adj.) + -ize. Concrete itself sometimes was used as a verb in various senses from 1630s. Related: Concretized; concretizing.

concretion (n.)

c. 1600, "act of growing together or uniting in one mass;" 1640s, "mass of solid matter formed by growing together or conglomeration," from French concrétion (16c.) or directly from Latin concretionem (nominative concretio) "a compacting, uniting, condensing; materiality, matter," from concretus "condensed, congealed" (see concrete (adj.) ). Related: Concretional; concretionary.

concrete (n.)

1520s, "that which is material or not abstract," a noun use of concrete (adj.). Meaning "a mass formed by concretion" is from 1650s, from the literal sense of Latin concretus. Hence "building material made from sand, gravel, stone chips, etc., cemented together" (1834).

concubine (n.)

c. 1300, "a paramour, a woman who cohabits with a man without being married to him;" also, in reference to Hebrew, Greek, Roman and other civilizations where the position was recognized by law, "a wife of inferior condition, a secondary wife," from Latin concubina (fem.), concubinus (masc.) "one who lives unmarried with a married man or woman."

Usually in Rome the concubine was of a lower social order, but the institution, though below matrimonium, was less reproachful than adulterium or stuprum. The word itself is from concumbere "to lie with, to lie together, to cohabit," from assimilated form of com "with, together" (see con-) + cubare "to lie down" (see cubicle).

In Middle English, as in Latin, sometimes used of a man who cohabits with a woman without marriage. Related: Concubinal. Blount's "Glossographia" (1656) has concubinary (n.) "one that keeps a concubine."

concubinage (n.)

late 14c., "state of being a concubine; act or practice of cohabiting in intimacy without legal marriage," from Old French concubinage, from concubin, from Latin concubina (see concubine). In ancient Roman law, "a permanent cohabitation between persons to whose marriage there were no legal obstacles."

concupiscent (adj.)

"characterized by illicit desire, lustful," mid-15c., from Latin concupiscentem (nominative concupiscens), present participle of concupiscere "to long for, covet" (see concupiscence).

concupiscence (n.)

"ardent desire, improper or illicit desire, lustful feeling," mid-14c., from Old French concupiscence and directly from Late Latin concupiscentia "eager desire," from present-participle stem of Latin concupiscere, inceptive of concupere "to be very desirous of," from assimilated form of com-, here perhaps an intensive prefix (see com-), + cupere "to long for" (see cupidity). Used in Vulgate to translate Greek epithymia.

concur (v.)

early 15c., "collide, clash in hostility," from Latin concurrere "to run together, assemble hurriedly; clash, fight," in transferred use, "to happen at the same time," from assimilated form of com "together" (see con-) + currere "to run" (from PIE root *kers- "to run"). Sense of "to coincide, happen at the same time" is 1590s; that of "to agree in opinion" is 1580s in English.

concurring (adj.)

1630s, "concurrent," present-participle adjective from concur. Concurring opinion is recorded from 1720.

concurrent (adj.)

late 14c., "acting in conjunction, contributing to the same effect or event," from Old French concurrent or directly from Latin concurrentem (nominative concurrens), present participle of concurrere "to run together, assemble hurriedly; clash, fight," in transferred use, "to happen at the same time" (see concur). Related: Concurrency; concurrently.

Meaning "running together side by side" is from late 15c. Meaning "combined, joint" is from 1530s. In law, concurrent jurisdiction (that possessed equally by two courts and if exercised by one not usually assumed by the other) is recorded from 1767.

concurrence (n.)

early 15c., "a combination for some purpose, cooperation" (a sense now archaic or obsolete), from Old French concurrence (14c.) or directly from Medieval Latin concurrentia "a running together," from concurrens, present participle of concurrere "to run together, assemble hurriedly; clash, fight," in transferred use, "to happen at the same time," from assimilated form of com "together" (see con-) + currere "to run" (from PIE root *kers- "to run").

Sense of "occurrence together in time, coincidence" is from c. 1600. Meaning "accordance in opinion" is from 1660s.

concussion (n.)

c. 1400, "a bruising, contusion (to the head)," from Latin concussionem (nominative concussio) "a shaking, an earthquake," noun of action from past-participle stem of concutere "shake violently," from assimilated form of com "with, together" (see con-) + quatere "to shake" (see quash).

From late 15c. as "act of shaking or agitation," especially by impact of another body; from 1540s as "brain injury caused by a fall or blow."

concussive (adj.)

1570s, "agitating, shocking, of the nature of or pertaining to concussion," from concuss-, past-participle stem of Latin concutere (see concussion) + -ive.

concuss (v.)

1590s, "to shake violently" (the original sense is now rare or obsolete), from Latin concuss-, past-participle stem of concutere "to dash together, shake violently" (see concussion). Meaning "to give a concussion to the brain" is from 1680s. Related: Concussed; concussing.

condemnation (n.)

late 14c., condempnacioun, "strong censure," from Late Latin condemnationem (nominative condemnatio), noun of action from past-participle stem of Latin condemnare, condempnare "to sentence, to blame" (see condemn). From late 14c. as "the act of condemning; damnation."

condemned (adj.)

1540s, of persons, "found guilty, at fault, under sentence, doomed," past-participle adjective from condemn. Of things or property, "found unfit for use, adjudged to be unwholesome, dangerous, etc.," from 1798.

condemn (v.)

early 14c., condempnen "to blame, censure;" mid-14c., "pronounce judgment against," from Old French condamner, condemner "to condemn" (11c.) and directly from Latin condemnare, condempnare "to sentence, doom, blame, disapprove," from assimilated form of com-, here perhaps an intensive prefix (see com-), + damnare "to harm, damage" (see damn (v.)). Replaced Old English fordeman.

From late 14c. as "hold to be reprehensible or intolerable," also "afford occasion for condemnation, bear witness against." From 1705 as "adjudge or pronounce as forfeited" (as a prize of war, etc.); from 1833, American English, in the sense of "to judicially take (land, etc.) for potential public use." From 1745 as "judge or pronounce (a building, etc.) to be unfit for use or service." Related: Condemned; condemning.

condemnatory (adj.)

late 16c., "conveying condemnation or censure," from Latin condemnat-, past participle stem of condemnare "to sentence, to blame" (see condemn) + -ory.

condensed (adj.)

c. 1600, "made more dense, compressed, compacted," past-participle adjective from condense. Of literary works, from 1823. Condensed milk is attested by 1863. Condensed type (1854) is thinner than compressed.

condense (v.)

early 15c., "thicken, make more dense or compact" (implied in condensed), from Old French condenser (14c.) or directly from Latin condensare "to make dense," from assimilated form of com-, here perhaps an intensive prefix (see com-), + densare "make thick," from densus "dense, thick, crowded," a word used of crowds, darkness, clouds, etc. (see dense).

Sense in chemistry and physics, "to reduce to another and denser form" (as a gas or vapor to a liquid) is from 1660s. Intransitive sense "become denser" is from 1650s. Related: Condensed; condensing.

condenser (n.)

"one who or that which condenses," 1680s, agent noun from condense. Given a wide variety of technical uses in late 18c. and 19c.

condensate (v.)

1550s, "to make dense" (a sense now obsolete or rare), from condens-, past-participle stem of Latin condensare "to make dense" (see condense) + -ate (2). Intransitive meaning "to become dense" is from c. 1600.

condensation (n.)

c. 1600, "action or state of making or becoming more dense," from Late Latin condensationem (nominative condensatio), noun of action from past-participle stem of Latin condensare "to make dense" (see condense). Meaning "conversion of a gas or vapor to a liquid form" is from 1610s.

condescent (n.)

mid-15c., "consent;" 1630s, "condescension," from condescend on model of descent/descend.

condescending (adj.)

1707, "marked or characterized by condescension, stooping to the level of one's inferiors," present-participle adjective from condescend. In a positive sense (of God, the Savior, etc.) until late 18c. "Now, usually, Making a show, or assuming the air, of condescension; patronizing" [OED]. Related: Condescendingly (1650s).

condescendence (n.)

1630s, "act of condescending," from French condescendance, from condescendre "to consent, give in, yield," from Latin condescendere "to let oneself down" (see condescend). Related: Condescendency.

condescend (v.)

mid-14c., of God, a king., etc., "make gracious allowance" for human frailty, etc.; late 14c., "yield deferentially," from Old French condescendere (14c.) "to agree, consent, give in, yield, come down from one's rights or claims," and directly from Late Latin condescendere "to let oneself down, stoop," in Medieval Latin "be complaisant or compliant," from assimilated form of Latin com "with, together" (see con-) + descendere "to descend," literally "climb down," from de "down" (see de-) + scandere "to climb," from PIE root *skand- "jump" (see scan (v.)).

Sense of ""voluntarily waive ceremony or dignity proper to one's superior position or rank and willingly assume equality with inferiors" is from early 15c. Generally a positive word in Middle English; the modern, negative sense is from the notion of a mere show or assumed air of condescending (compare sense evolution in patronize). Also in Middle English "give one's consent; come to mutual agreement; make a concession."

condescension (n.)

1640s, "the act of condescending, a voluntary inclining to equality with inferiors," from Late Latin condescensionem, noun of action from past-participle stem of condescendere "to let oneself down" (see condescend).

condign (adj.)

early 15c., "well-deserved, merited," from Old French condigne "deserved, appropriate, equal in wealth" and directly from Latin condignus "wholly worthy," from assimilated form of com "together, altogether" (see con-) + dignus "worth (n.), worthy, proper, fitting" (from PIE root *dek- "to take, accept").

In Middle English of rewards as well as punishment, censure, etc., but by c. 1700 used exclusively of punishments, "deservedly severe." Related: Condignity; condignly.

condiment (n.)

mid-15c., "a pickling fluid, seasoning, sauce, something used to give relish to food," from Old French condiment (13c.), from Latin condimentum "spice, seasoning, sauce," from condire "to preserve, pickle, season, put fruit in vinegar, wine, spices, etc.," a variant of condere "put together, store," from assimilated form of com "together" (see con-) + -dere "put," from PIE root *dhe- "to put, place."

Related: Condimental. Middle English also had a verb condite (early 15c.) "to season, prepare or preserve with salt, spices, sugar, etc."

condition (n.)

mid-14c., condicioun, "particular mode of being of a person or thing," also "a requisite or prerequisite, a stipulation," from Old French condicion "stipulation; state; behavior; social status" (12c., Modern French condition), from Medieval Latin conditionem (nominative conditio), properly condicio "agreement; stipulation; the external position, situation, rank, place, circumstances" of persons, "situation, condition, nature, manner" of things, from condicere "to speak with, talk together, agree upon," in Late Latin "consent, assent," from assimilated form of com "together" (see con-) + dicere "to speak" (from PIE root *deik- "to show," also "pronounce solemnly").

Classical Latin condicio was confused in Late Latin with conditio "a making," from conditus, past participle of condere "to put together." The sense evolution in Latin apparently was from "stipulation" to "situation, mode of being."

Meaning "rank or state with respect to ordered society" is from late 14c. in English. From the notion of "prerequisite" comes the sense of "a restricting or limiting circumstance" (late 14c.). Also in Middle English "personal character, disposition" (mid-14c.).

conditional (adj.)

late 14c., condicionel, "depending on a condition or circumstance, contingent," from Old French condicionel (Modern French conditionnel), from Late Latin conditionalis, from Latin condicionem "agreement; situation" (see condition (n.)). Related: Conditionally; conditionality.

condition (v.)

late 15c., "to make conditions, stipulate," from condition (n.). Meaning "subject to something as a condition" is from 1520s; sense of "form a prerequisite of" is from 1868. Meaning "to bring to a desired condition" is from 1844; psychological sense of "teach or accustom (a person or animal) to certain habits or responses" is from 1909. Related: Conditioned; conditioning.

conditioner (n.)

c. 1600, "a bargainer," agent noun from condition (v.). Meaning "an agent that brings something into good condition" is from 1888; since c. 1960 usually in reference to hair care products. Before that, it often was short for air conditioner (1938).

condo (n.)

1964, short for condominium in the "privately owned apartment" sense.

condolence (n.)

c. 1600, "sympathetic grief, sorrowing with another" (a sense now obsolete); 1610s, "expression of sympathy to one in distress, mourning, etc.," from Late Latin condolens, present participle of condolere "to suffer with another" (from assimilated form of com "with, together" + dolere "to grieve;" see doleful) + -ence. Often in form condoleance 1600-1800. Condolent, "sympathizing, compassionate," is attested from c. 1500, from Latin condolentem.

Condolences "formal declaration of sympathy" is from 1670s; the reason for it being always plural is unclear, but the earliest references are to expressions from groups of persons ("Foreign Princes addressed their Condolences to him"), so perhaps the habit stuck.

condole (v.)

1580s, "to sorrow or grieve over with another," from Late Latin condolere "to suffer with another," from assimilated form of com "with, together" (see con-) + dolere "to grieve" (see doleful). Meaning "express condolences, speak sympathetically to one in pain, grief, or misfortune" is recorded from 1650s. Related: Condoled; condoling.

condom (n.)

"contraceptive sheath," 1706, traditionally named for a British physician during reign of Charles II (a story traceable to 1709), but there is no evidence for that. Also spelled condam, quondam, which suggests it may be from Italian guantone, from guanto "a glove." A word omitted in the original OED (c. 1890) and not used openly in the U.S. and not advertised in mass media until the November 1986 speech by Surgeon General C. Everett Koop on AIDS prevention. Compare prophylactic.

condominium (n.)

1714, "joint rule or sovereignty, ownership exclusive of all except the co-owners," from Modern Latin condominium "joint sovereignty," apparently coined in German c. 1700 from Latin com "with, together" (see com-) + dominium "right of ownership, property, dominion," from dominus "lord, master, owner," from domus "house" (from PIE root *dem- "house, household").

A word in politics and international law until sense of "privately owned apartment" arose in American English 1962 as a special use of the legal term.

condonation (n.)

"act of pardoning a wrong act," 1620s, from Latin condonationem (nominative condonatio) "a giving away," noun of action from past-participle stem of condonare "to give up, remit, permit," from assimilated form of com-, here perhaps an intensive prefix (see con-), + donare "give as a gift" (from donum "gift," from PIE root *do- "to give").

condone (v.)

1857, "to forgive or pardon" (something wrong), especially by implication, from Latin condonare "to give up, remit, permit," from assimilated form of com-, here perhaps an intensive prefix (see con-), + donare "give as a gift," from donum "gift" (from PIE root *do- "to give").

It is attested from 1620s, but only as a dictionary word. In real-world use originally a legal term in the Matrimonial Causes Act, which made divorce a civil matter in Britain (see condonation). General sense of "tolerate, sanction" is by 1962. Related: Condoned; condoning.