consonance
UK[ˈkɒnsənəns]US[ˈkɑːnsənəns]
n
A pleasing combination of sounds, especially in music or speech.
n
Agreement, compatibility, or harmony between people or things.
Morpheme Breakdown
con
son
ance
con
together
son
sound
ance
noun suffix
Etymology
The word 'consonance' originates from the Latin 'consonantia', which itself is derived from 'consonare', meaning "to sound together". The Latin components are 'con-' (together) and 'sonare' (to sound). This literal sense of sounds blending agreeably was carried through Old French into Middle English. Over time, the meaning expanded beyond the purely auditory to encompass any form of agreement or harmony between abstract elements, such as ideas or actions, reflecting the metaphorical extension of a pleasing sonic blend to a pleasing conceptual alignment.
Analysis
Structure: con (together) + son (sound) + ance (noun suffix)
- con: Latin origin, a prefix meaning "together, with".
- son: Latin origin, from the root 'sonus' meaning "sound".
- ance: Latin/French origin, a noun-forming suffix indicating a state, quality, or action.
Examples
The composer used perfect consonance to create a sense of resolution in the final chord.
There was a clear consonance between the company's stated values and its actual practices.
The poet achieved a beautiful consonance through the repetition of soft 's' and 'l' sounds.