- consonant (n.)
- early 14c., "sound other than a vowel," from Latin consonantem (nominative consonans), present participle of consonare "to sound together, sound aloud," from com- "with" (see com-) + sonare, from sonus "sound" (see sound (n.1)). Consonants were thought of as sounds that are only produced together with vowels.
- consonant (adj.)
- early 15c., from Old French consonant (13c.), from Latin consonantem (nominative consonans), present participle of consonare (see consonant (n.)).