Consort
/ˈkɒn.sɔːt/noun
A spouse or companion, especially of a reigning monarch; also, to associate or keep company with.
Did you know?In English, *consort* kept both the neutral sense of “companion” and the political sense of a monarch’s spouse, while its verb form could also mean “to associate with” — a reminder that words for closeness often carry social power.
Etymological Timeline
Latin
Latin
sors, sortis
“a lot, fate, share, or destiny”
Late Latin
Latin
consortium
“partnership, fellowship, sharing in a lot”
Old French
Old French
consort
“partner, companion, spouse”
14th Century
English
consort
“a companion, partner, or spouse”
Modern English
English
consort
“a spouse, especially of a monarch; or to associate with”