concourse
UK[ˈkɒŋkɔːs]US[ˈkɑːŋkɔːrs]
n
A large open central area inside or in front of a public building, especially an airport or train station.
n
A crowd or gathering of people.
Morpheme Breakdown
con
course
con
together
course
run
Etymology
The word 'concourse' entered English in the 14th century from Old French 'concours', which itself derived from Latin 'concursus', the past participle of 'concurrere' meaning 'to run together'. The Latin components are 'con-' (together) and 'currere' (to run). The literal sense of a "running together" or "a flocking" of people evolved to denote the place where such a gathering occurs. This semantic shift from the action to the location is common, paralleling words like 'confluence', leading to its modern meanings of a crowded gathering or, more specifically, the large open area in a transport hub where crowds flow and gather.
Analysis
Structure: con (together) + course (run)
- con: A prefix from Latin 'cum', meaning 'together', 'with', or 'thoroughly'. In this word, it functions to indicate a coming together.
- course: From Latin 'cursus', meaning 'a running', 'a race', or 'a journey'. In this word, it functions as the base, carrying the core idea of movement or flow.
Examples
We agreed to meet in the main concourse of the railway station.
A concourse of protesters gathered outside the courthouse.
The airport's new concourse features a wide variety of shops and restaurants.