condere

Condere is a Latin verb of the third conjugation meaning to found, establish, or build, with further senses such as to put together, to form, or to lay up and store. Its core use is to create something durable or foundational, whether a city, a state, an institution, laws, or treaties. In classical prose it can also convey the sense of placing or setting something up for use or posterity.

Principal parts and basic morphology

The principal parts are condo, condere, condidi, conditum. As a regular third-conjugation verb, it follows the standard -o, -is, -it, -imus, -itis, -unt pattern in the present active indicative (condo, condis, condit, conditimus, condititis, condunt). Other active tenses and the passive are formed with the usual endings, and the perfect passive participle is conditus, with the supine often given as conditum.

Common constructions and meanings

Condere takes a direct object in the accusative for its core senses, often with a destination or object of establishment: condere urbem (to found a city), condere leges (to enact or establish laws), condere foedera (to conclude treaties), condere consilia (to form plans or schemes). The phraseology frequently emphasizes initial creation, founding, or instituting something new or lasting. The passive participle conditus can be used adjectivally to mean “founded” or “established.”

Derivative and related use

From condere derive terms related to foundation and formation, and the verb appears in various idioms and historical texts describing the founding of cities, institutions, and formal agreements. While primarily about creation, it can also extend metaphorically to forming or composing things like plans, compositions, or even traditions.

Notes

Condere is distinct from verbs meaning to bury or to convict; its central focus is the act of founding, establishing, or putting together something intended to endure.