consultation
UK[ˌkɒnsəlˈteɪʃn]US[ˌkɑːnsəlˈteɪʃn]
n
A meeting with an expert or professional, especially a doctor, lawyer, etc., to get advice.
n
The process of discussing something with someone or with a group before making a decision about it.
Morpheme Breakdown
consult
ation
consult
to deliberate, consider
ation
Etymology
The word 'consultation' has a clear lineage from Latin, built upon the verb 'consultare', meaning 'to take counsel, deliberate'. This verb itself is a frequentative form of 'consulere', which carried the sense of 'to call together, take counsel'. The core concept embedded in the root is one of gathering or seeking collective wisdom and advice. The addition of the noun-forming suffix '-ation' transforms the action into the name for the event or process itself. Thus, the modern meaning of 'consultation' logically evolves from its literal Latin components: it is the formalized action or meeting for the purpose of deliberation and seeking expert counsel.
Analysis
Structure: consult + ation
- consult: From Latin 'consultare', meaning 'to deliberate, consider'. It functions as the verb root, carrying the core meaning of seeking advice or deliberation.
- ation: A suffix of Latin origin ('-atio') used to form nouns indicating an action or process. It functions as a nominalizer, turning the verb 'consult' into the noun for the act or instance of consulting.
Examples
I have a consultation with my dermatologist next Tuesday.
The committee's decision was made after extensive consultation with stakeholders.
The lawyer offered a free initial consultation to discuss the case.