entry
consider
/kənˈsɪdɚ/think about something carefully or seriously
From Latin con- (with) + Latin sidus (star).
from Old French considerer (13c.) "reflect on, consider, study,"
+1 more sourcefrom Old French considerer (13c.) "reflect on, consider, study,"
+1 more sourcefrom Latin considerare "to look at closely, observe," probably literally "to observe the stars,"
+1 more sourcefrom Old French considerer (13c.) "reflect on, consider, study,"
+1 more sourcefrom Old French considerer (13c.) "reflect on, consider, study,"
+1 more sourcefrom Middle English consideren
from Old French considerer (13c.) "reflect on, consider, study,"
+1 more sourceWord Ancestry
from Old French considerer (13c.) "reflect on, consider, study,"
+1 more sourcefrom Old French considerer (13c.) "reflect on, consider, study,"
+1 more sourcefrom Latin considerare "to look at closely, observe," probably literally "to observe the stars,"
+1 more sourcefrom Old French considerer (13c.) "reflect on, consider, study,"
+1 more sourcefrom Old French considerer (13c.) "reflect on, consider, study,"
+1 more sourcefrom Middle English consideren
from Old French considerer (13c.) "reflect on, consider, study,"
+1 more sourcePicture a Roman navigator craning his neck over the Mediterranean at night, trying to read direction and destiny in the constellations. Latin considerare probably joined com-, “together,” with sidus, “star,” creating the image of gathering the stars into one attentive survey. That explanation is vivid—but not universally accepted: the scholar De Vaan rejected several alternatives without endorsing one, while Tucker argued that the word may instead relate to the root behind English side, suggesting a survey “on all sides.” By the late 14th century, Middle English consideren had left the heavens behind and settled into ordinary mental work: examining an offer, weighing evidence, or deliberating before acting. The next time you consider something, imagine not a vague thought but an ancient stargazer assembling the whole sky before making a decision.
The Story
Picture a Roman navigator craning his neck over the Mediterranean at night, trying to read direction and destiny in the constellations. Latin considerare probably joined com-, “together,” with sidus, “star,” creating the image of gathering the stars into one attentive survey. That explanation is vivid—but not universally accepted: the scholar De Vaan rejected several alternatives without endorsing one, while Tucker argued that the word may instead relate to the root behind English side, suggesting a survey “on all sides.” By the late 14th century, Middle English consideren had left the heavens behind and settled into ordinary mental work: examining an offer, weighing evidence, or deliberating before acting. The next time you consider something, imagine not a vague thought but an ancient stargazer assembling the whole sky before making a decision.
Modern Usage
Informally, to think about something or say one will do it.
Notable References
- Urban Dictionary entries
Kin & Kindred
From 'con-'·with, together
Derived Terms
English words from this root
From 'sidus'·star, constellation, heavenly body
Derived Terms
English words from this root
Sources
Etymonline
Free Dictionary
Urban Dictionary
Wiktionary