com-

with, together; sometimes thoroughly

Forms

com-
con- — Used before many consonants in Latin.
col- — Used before l in Latin.
cor- — Used before r in Latin.
co- — Shortened especially before vowels.

Origin

Reconstructed Proto-Indo-European *kom, ‘with; beside.’

Note

In some formations, togetherness shades into completeness; the prefix’s exact contribution can be uncertain.

192 / 265

noun

consolidation

kuhn-sah-lih-DAY-shuhn/kənˌsɑːlɪˈdeɪʃn/

The strengthening of something by making it more unified.

The rods' consolidation into a tightly bound bundle makes them resist bending.

Loose slender wooden rods are bound together into one sturdy bundle.

Etymology

conLatinwith, together; sometimes thoroughly

+solidLatinsolid, whole, or undivided

+ationLatinan action, process, or result

The pieces express a process of making things firm together. Early uses described wounds and broken bones becoming solid or firm; the meaning expanded to uniting separate parts into one whole.

In context

The Ramsey Show Highlights4:45

a real debt consolidation loan that's where you get a new loan and the balances are rolled into that new loan and so now you do have literally one loan instead of twelve and that is that's consolidation

The Truth About Debt CONsolidation

More examples

Debt consolidation combines her loans into one more manageable loan.
The consolidation of local services reduces costs and improves coordination.
The party's consolidation of power leaves little room for opposition.

Forms

consolidation · consolidations

consolidate verb — To strengthen by bringing separate parts together.

Similar words

unification: Emphasizes becoming one rather than becoming stronger or more secure.
integration: Emphasizes fitting parts together into a functioning whole.
merger: Usually joins separate companies or organizations into a single organization.