concidere

Concidere is a Latin verb meaning to fall down, collapse, perish, or be slain. It can be intransitive, describing something or someone falling, or transitive, meaning to strike down or kill. In addition to physical falling, it can be used figuratively for failure, collapse of a plan, or a person being overwhelmed by misfortune. The term is common in classical and late antique Latin, and appears in a range of literary and documentary contexts.

Etymology and forms: concīdō, concidere, concīdī, concīsus is a regular third-conjugation verb. In the present active indicative, typical forms include concīdō, concīdīs, concīdīt, concīdīmus, concīdītis, concīdunt. Like other -ere verbs, concidere forms its perfect, pluperfect, and future tenses in the usual patterns, with related participles such as concīsus used in adjectival or participial phrases.

Usage: In Latin, concidere is versatile. In a military sense it can mean to strike down or kill an opponent, or to fall in battle. In civilian or civilizational contexts, it often conveys physical collapse (a building or structure collapsing) or a person’s sudden fall due to injury, fatigue, or disease. Figuratively, it can describe plans, hopes, or institutions that fail or come to an abrupt end. The form and nuance depend on context, but the core idea centers on downward movement from a previous state.

See also: cadere (to fall), occidere (to kill), decīdere (to cut down). In Latin dictionaries, concidere is treated as a standard example of a third-conjugation verb with both literal and metaphorical applications.