Dictionary.com
definitions
  • synonyms

consummate

[verb kon-suh-meyt; adjective kuh n-suhm-it, kon-suh-mit]
See more synonyms for consummate on Thesaurus.com
verb (used with object), con·sum·mat·ed, con·sum·mat·ing.
  1. to bring to a state of perfection; fulfill.
  2. to complete (an arrangement, agreement, or the like) by a pledge or the signing of a contract: The company consummated its deal to buy a smaller firm.
  3. to complete (the union of a marriage) by the first marital sexual intercourse.
Show More
adjective
  1. complete or perfect; supremely skilled; superb: a consummate master of the violin.
  2. being of the highest or most extreme degree: a work of consummate skill; an act of consummate savagery.
Show More

Origin of consummate

1400–50; late Middle English (adj.) < Latin consummātus (past participle of consummāre to complete, bring to perfection), equivalent to con- con- + summ(a) sum + -ātus -ate1
Related formscon·sum·mate·ly, adverbcon·sum·ma·tive, con·sum·ma·to·ry [kuh n-suhm-uh-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee] /kənˈsʌm əˌtɔr i, -ˌtoʊr i/, adjectivecon·sum·ma·tor, nounhalf-con·sum·mat·ed, adjectiveun·con·sum·mate, adjectiveun·con·sum·mate·ly, adverbun·con·sum·mat·ed, adjectiveun·con·sum·ma·tive, adjective

Synonyms

See more synonyms for consummate on Thesaurus.com
1. complete, perfect, finish, accomplish, achieve.

Antonyms

4. imperfect, unfinished.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for consummately

Historical Examples

  • And yet, unfortunately for him, that woman is consummately plausible.

    The Diary of a Man of Fifty

    Henry James

  • You are consummately ignorant of the power of our great medicine men.

  • Though her mien was in general haughty, she flattered Zenobia, and consummately.

    Endymion

    Benjamin Disraeli

  • His methods were consummately adapted to the genius of the Byzantines.

  • But what need I instance in those that are consummately good?

British Dictionary definitions for consummately

consummate

verb (ˈkɒnsəˌmeɪt) (tr)
  1. to bring to completion or perfection; fulfil
  2. to complete (a marriage) legally by sexual intercourse
Show More
adjective (kənˈsʌmɪt, ˈkɒnsəmɪt)
  1. accomplished or supremely skilleda consummate artist
  2. (prenominal) (intensifier)a consummate fool
Show More
Derived Formsconsummately, adverbconsummation, nounconsummative or consummatory, adjectiveconsummator, noun

Word Origin

C15: from Latin consummāre to complete, from summus highest, utmost
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for consummately

consummate

adj.

mid-15c., from Latin consummatus "perfected, complete," past participle of consummare "sum up, complete" (see consummation). Of persons, "accomplished, very qualified," from 1640s. Related: Consummately.

Show More

consummate

v.

1520s, "to bring to completion," from Latin consummatus, past participle of consummare "to sum up, make up, complete, finish" (see consummation). Meaning "to bring a marriage to completion" (by sexual intercourse) is from 1530s. Related: Consummated; consummating.

Show More
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper