cohabit

the word 'cohabit' is a direct borrowing from latin 'cohabitare', which is itself a compound of the prefix 'co-' (a variant of 'com-', meaning 'together') and the verb 'habitare' (meaning 'to dwell, inhabit'). 'habitare' is a frequentative form of 'habere' (to have, hold), suggesting a repeated or continual action of holding a place, hence dwelling. the term entered english in the 16th century, initially with the general sense of 'living together'. over time, its usage narrowed specifically to describe an unmarried couple sharing a domestic and sexual life, reflecting a social arrangement distinct from formal marriage.