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.

103 / 108
noun

convocation

kahn-vuh-KAY-shuhn/ˌkɑːnvəˈkeɪʃn/

A formal gathering of people or the act of calling them together.

The university president opens the annual convocation with a brief welcome.

A small formal convocation: a middle-aged white man stands at a simple lectern addressing three seated attendees arranged in orderly rows, including a young adult South Asian man.
Etymology
conLatintogether, with; sometimes thoroughly
+vocLatincall, summon
+ationLatinan action, process, or result

The pieces describe a calling together: people are summoned to assemble. The word names both that act and the formal gathering it produces.

In context

VinFuture Prize1:51
this very kind invitation uh to come back to Vin Yuni and the great honor of delivering the the speech at their very first convocation
[Unveil the Future] Episode 5 | Igniting the Future: Prof. David Payne on Science’s Next Generation

More examples

  • New students and their families attend the fall convocation.
  • These convocations bring religious leaders together to discuss shared concerns.
  • The charter requires the convocation of members before a vote.

Forms

convocation · convocations

convoke verb — Call people together for a formal meeting.

Similar words

assembly
Emphasizes the gathered group rather than the act of calling.
gathering
A broader term covering both formal and informal meetings.
convention
Usually a large organized meeting for a shared interest.