consummate

Consummate is a word with both an adjective and a verb function in English. As an adjective, it denotes a high degree of completion or perfection, or the demonstration of supreme skill. It is used to describe people, performances, or qualities that are complete, flawless, or thoroughly well-executed, such as “a consummate professional” or “consummate artistry.” The sense can carry a positive, laudatory nuance, though in some contexts it can be used ironically to imply completeness of a less admirable trait.

As a verb, to consummate means to bring something to a state of completion or realization. The most common usage is to describe the act of bringing a marriage to its formal conclusion through sexual union, i.e., the consummation of the marriage. The verb can also refer to finalizing or perfecting a deal, treaty, or agreement, as in “to consummate a contract.” The related noun “consummation” refers to the act itself or the condition resulting from it.

Etymology and history: the term derives from Latin consummatus, meaning finished or completed, from con- (together) and sumere (to take). Its general sense of completion or mastery developed in English during the Middle to Early Modern periods, later expanding to include the sexual and formal connotations commonly encountered today.

Usage notes: the adjective sense is widely used in formal and informal contexts, while the verb sense is more formal or legal. The sexual sense of consummation is a private or sensitive topic in casual discourse, and in certain contexts may require careful or discreet phrasing. The noun consummation is often used in legal, religious, or literary discussions.