Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “consonant” come from?

Consonant comes from Middle English consonant, meaning a speech sound produced with audible friction or obstruction.

consonant (English): A sound that results from the passage of air...

Definitions

  1. A sound that results from the passage of air...

Ancestry of “consonant”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishconsonant—
2Old Frenchconsonant—
3Latincōnsonāns—
4LatinconsonoI sound at the same time or together; sound...
5Latincon-Used in compounds to indicate a being or bringing...
6Latincumwith, along with; at; -fold
7Old LatincomAlternative form of cum
8Proto-Italickomwith, along, at
9Proto-Indo-Europeanḱómbeside, near, by, with
10Proto-Indo-EuropeanḱeDeictic particle, here; Post-positional...
11Middle Englishkyt—
12Germankitt—
13Old High Germankuti—
14Proto-West Germanickwidugum, resin
15Proto-Germanickweduzresin
16Proto-Indo-Europeangʷet-resin, gum; to say, speak
17Proto-Indo-Europeangū-to bend; curve; arch; vault; to bow, bend, arch,...

Words derived from “consonant”

  • consonantal
  • inconsonant
  • triconsonantal
  • consonantly
  • consonantism
  • preconsonantal
  • biconsonantal
  • postconsonantal
  • unconsonant
  • disconsonant
  • interconsonantal
  • consonantally
  • semiconsonant
  • postconsonantally
  • nonconsonantal
  • preconsonantally
  • consonantless
  • semiconsonantal
  • interconsonantally
  • triconsonantic
  • consonantize
  • consonantness
Every word from Proto-Indo-European gū- →