constare

Constare is a Latin verb with several closely related senses. It most commonly means to stand firm or to be fixed in place, as in a physical or situational state. It can also mean to consist of or to be composed of, when describing the parts that make up a whole. In addition, constare has an impersonal use meaning “it is evident,” “it is certain,” or “it is agreed,” as in statements about a matter’s truth or arrangement.

Etymology and form. The word derives from con- “together” and stare “to stand,” conveying the sense of standing together or becoming fixed. In Latin grammars, constare is treated as a first-conjugation verb; the infinitive is constare, and it is used with a range of endings to express tense and voice. The standard principal parts are typically listed as consto, constare, constiti, constitum.

Usage and examples. In classical prose, one finds sentences such as res constat ex partibus, “the matter consists of parts,” or the impersonal form constat, meaning “it is evident” or “it is certain.” The impersonal construction constare often introduces a conclusion or an agreed point in argumentation, as in constare inveniatur verum, “it is established that this is true.” The sense “to stand” and “to be established” makes constare common in legal, rhetorical, and philosophical Latin, as well as in descriptions of state or condition.

See also. Related Latin verbs and nouns include stare, constans, and constantia, which share a root related to standing, firmness, or constancy. Latin dictionaries such as Lewis and Short provide fuller paradigms and usage notes.