Liberal Dictionary English Dictionary
verb (used with object), con·soled, con·sol·ing.
- to alleviate or lessen the grief, sorrow, or disappointment of; give solace or comfort: Only his children could console him when his wife died.
verb
- to serve as a source of comfort to (someone) in disappointment, loss, sadness, etc
noun
- an ornamental bracket, esp one used to support a wall fixture, bust, etc
- the part of an organ comprising the manuals, pedals, stops, etc
- a unit on which the controls of an electronic system are mounted
- same as games console
- a cabinet for a television, gramophone, etc, designed to stand on the floor
- See console table
1690s, from French consoler “to comfort, console,” from Latin consolari “offer solace, encourage, comfort, cheer,” from com-, intensive prefix (see com-), + solari “to comfort” (see solace). Or perhaps a back-formation from consolation. The Latin word is glossed in Old English by frefran. Related: Consoled; consoling.
1706, “a cabinet; an ornamental base structure,” from French console “a bracket” (16c.), of uncertain origin, possibly from Middle French consolateur, literally “one who consoles,” word used for carved human figures supporting cornices, shelves or rails in choir stalls. Another guess connects it to Latin consolidare. Sense evolved to “body of a musical organ” (1881), “radio cabinet” (1925), then “cabinet for a TV, stereo, etc.” (1944).