rhizoverbBeta
DictionaryRoot: con-
Latin

con-

together, with; sometimes thoroughly

Forms

  • con-
  • com- — Used before certain consonants, especially b, p, and m.
  • col- — The final consonant changed before l.
  • cor- — The final consonant changed before r.
  • co- — The final consonant was lost in some combinations.

Origin

From Latin cum, “with,” and an older form com-.

Note

Togetherness could extend to completeness. Not every word containing this prefix retains an obvious “with” meaning.

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proper noun / noun

congress

KAHNG-gruhs/ˈkɑːŋɡrəs/

An assembly of representatives deliberating on shared affairs.

Congress debates a bill to improve roads and bridges.

A national legislative assembly at work.
Etymology
conLatintogether, with; sometimes thoroughly
+gressLatinstep or walk

Stepping together gives the image of people meeting. The word narrowed from a general meeting to a formal assembly of delegates, then became the name of the American national legislature.

In context

US National Archives3:00
In the first Congress after the ratification of the 19th amendment, three women sat in the House of Representatives.
Battling Bella: The Protest Politics of Bella Abzug*

More examples

  • Delegates at the annual congress vote on new rules.
  • The union holds a congress to discuss working conditions.
  • Both houses of Congress must approve the bill.

Forms

congress · congresses

congressional adjective — relating to Congress or a congress

Similar words

assembly
A broader term for a gathering, not necessarily of representatives.
convention
Usually a scheduled gathering of political, professional, or organizational delegates.
legislature
Specifically a lawmaking body, rather than any representative gathering.