Word: console (verb / noun)

Associations

"Console" can be both a verb and a noun.

As a verb, it means to comfort someone who is sad or upset.

• Example 1: She tried to console her friend after the bad news. (Here, "console" means to give comfort.)
• Example 2: He consoled the child who was crying. (Again, comforting someone.)
• Example 3: After losing the game, the coach consoled the players. (Offering emotional support.)

As a noun, "console" can mean:

1. A control panel or device, like a game console (PlayStation, Xbox).
2. A piece of furniture, like a small table or cabinet.

• Example 1 (noun - device): He bought a new game console for his birthday.
• Example 2 (noun - furniture): The vase is on the console near the door.

Synonym for the verb "console" is "comfort." The difference: "console" often suggests offering support after a specific sad event, while "comfort" can be more general.

Substitution

Verb "console" can be replaced by:

• Comfort (more general)
• Soothe (focus on calming feelings)
• Reassure (focus on removing worries)

Noun "console" (device) can be replaced by:

• Gaming system
• Control panel

Noun "console" (furniture) can be replaced by:

• Table
• Cabinet

Deconstruction

The verb "console" comes from Latin "consolari," where "con-" means "together" and "solari" means "to soothe." So, it means "to soothe together" or "to comfort."

As a noun, "console" comes from the idea of a panel or support structure (like a bracket that supports something).

Inquiry

• Can you think of a time when you needed to console someone? What did you say or do?
• How is consoling different from just listening to someone?
• Do you have a game console or know someone who does? What games do they play?
• Have you seen a console table or furniture in your home or somewhere else? What was on it?