consolation - Wiktionary, the free dictionary (original) (raw)

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary

From Old French consolacion (French consolatio), from Latin cōnsōlātiō, from the deponent verb cōnsōlor (“I console, encourage”) with the -tiō suffix, while cōnsōlor comprises the intensifying prefix con- with the deponent verb sōlor (“I comfort, console”). Equivalent to console +‎ -ation. Doublet of consolatio.

consolation (countable and uncountable, plural consolations)

  1. The act or example of consoling; the condition of being consoled.
    Synonyms: relief, solace; see also Thesaurus:consolation
    • 1543 June 8, Henry VIII of England, “The Nynthe Article. The Holy Catholike Churche.”, in A Necessary Doctrine and Erudicion for Any Chrysten Man, Set furth by the Kynges Maiestye of Englande, &c., imprinted at London: […] by Thomas Berthelet, […], →OCLC:
      Moreouer the perfit beleue of this article, worketh in all true chriſten people, aloue to continue in this vnitie, and afeare to be caſte out of the ſame, and it worketh in them that be ſinners and repentant, great comforte, and conſolacion, to obteine remiſſion of ſinne, by vertue of Chriſtes paſſion, and adminiſtracion of his ſacramentes at the miniſters handes, ordained for that purpoſe, [...]
    • 1777, Richard Brinsley Sheridan, The School for Scandal, I.i:
      [I]f Charles is undone, He'll find half his Acquaintance ruin'd too, and that, you know, is a consolation—
  2. The prize or benefit for the loser.
  3. (sports) A consolation goal.

act of consoling

Learned borrowing from Latin cōnsōlātiō. Morphologically, from consoler +‎ -ation.

consolation f (plural consolations)

  1. consolation
    lot de consolation ― consolation prize