Podcast Summary: Merriam-Webster’s Word of the Day – "Consummate"
Date: September 13, 2025
Host: Peter Sokolowski (for Merriam-Webster)
Episode Overview
This episode centers on the word “consummate,” exploring its meaning, usage, history, and semantic evolution. Peter Sokolowski provides definitions, examples, and notable historical context to enhance listeners’ vocabulary and understanding of the word.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
Definition and Usage
- Primary Definition:
- "Consummate" (adjective): someone or something described as consummate is very skilled or accomplished.
- It can also mean “of the highest degree” and “complete in every detail.”
- Usage Note:
- Always used before the noun it describes.
- Example provided:
“Friends and collaborators describe him as a consummate gentleman and leader with an infectious sense of humor.” (00:42)
- Additional Meanings:
- Can describe something “supremely excellent” or “simply extreme.”
Etymology and Historical Usage
- Origins:
- Entered English in the 15th century, “ultimately from the Latin word consummare, meaning ‘to sum up’ or ‘finish.’” (01:34)
- Shift in Meaning:
- Initially used to describe something “brought to completion.”
- Shakespearean example illustrating the early meaning:
“Shakespeare used the word this way in Measure for Measure — ‘with these do you the office friar, which consummate return him here again.’” (01:40)
- By the 16th century, meaning shifted to “complete in every detail.”
- In modern usage, most commonly means “extremely skilled and accomplished.”
Example in Context
- Quoting a Modern Sentence:
- From Vibe by Raquel Kem:
“Kem’s legacy serves as a blueprint for excellence. Offstage, his charm extends beyond the microphone. Friends and collaborators describe him as a consummate gentleman and leader with an infectious sense of humor.” (00:57)
- From Vibe by Raquel Kem:
Notable Language Note
- Meta-reference:
- Peter Sokolowski humorously notes:
“Consummate is a consummate example of a word that’s shifted in meaning over the centuries.” (01:26)
- Peter Sokolowski humorously notes:
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
-
On Definition:
“Consummate... is very skilled or accomplished. Consummate can also mean of the highest degree and complete in every detail.” – Peter Sokolowski (00:42)
-
On Etymology:
“A 15th century addition to the language, ultimately from the Latin consummare, meaning to sum up or finish...” – Peter Sokolowski (01:34)
-
On Language Change:
“Consummate is a consummate example of a word that’s shifted in meaning over the centuries.” – Peter Sokolowski (01:26)
-
On Modern Usage:
“Today, it usually describes someone or something extremely skilled and accomplished. But it can also describe that which is supremely excellent, as well as that which is simply extreme.” – Peter Sokolowski (01:57)
Structured Timestamps
- 00:42: Definition and present-day usage of "consummate"
- 00:57: Example sentence from Vibe by Raquel Kem
- 01:26: Language nuance and meta-reference
- 01:34: Etymology and Shakespeare example
- 01:57: Current meanings and summary
Episode Tone and Style
- Educational, concise, and friendly
- Peter Sokolowski’s delivery is both informative and lightly humorous, making the topic accessible and engaging.
This episode is ideal for anyone interested in the nuanced history and present-day use of “consummate,” providing not only definitions but also context, examples, and a brief journey through the word’s evolution.