collgere

Colligere is a Latin verb meaning to gather, collect, assemble, or bring together. It can refer to gathering physical items such as stones or goods, as well as intangible things such as data, opinions, or documents. In classical and later Latin, the verb appears in a variety of contexts, from inventorying possessions to compiling evidence or notes.

Origin and form: Colligere is a Latin verb belonging to the third conjugation. Its use in prose reflects both literal gathering and the more abstract act of assembling resources, arguments, or records. The related nouns collectio (collection or assembly) and collegium (guild or college) derive from the same semantic field, emphasizing the sense of bringing people or things together. The term also gives rise to English cognates such as collect, collection, and college, through later Latin and medieval adaptations.

Usage and nuance: In Latin sentences, colligere takes a direct object in the accusative for what is gathered, as in pecuniam colligit (he collects money). It can appear in passive constructions to denote items that are being gathered, as in documenta colliguntur (documents are collected). The verb covers practical acts of accumulation, as well as figurative senses such as gathering evidence, opinions, or memories.

See also: collectio, collegium, collega (fellow), and English cognates like collect, collection, and college. These terms share the core idea of bringing elements together, whether material or symbolic, and reflect a common Latin heritage.