Consummate Does Not Mean Commensurate

Consummate Does Not Mean Commensurate Consummate Does Not Mean Commensurate Consummate Does Not Mean Commensurate By Maeve Maddox The following comment by a professional journalist set me wondering if I had the wrong idea about the meaning of the adjective consummate: Bernie Sanders is talking real issues. The pundits that are giving Bernie Sanders a bit of coverage, though not consummate to the crowds he is attracting, are noting the authenticity of his prose. The adjective consummate [kun-SUM-it] and the verb consummate [KAHN-suh-mate], come from Latin words having to do with completion. The adjective derives from classical Latin consummÄ tus, â€Å"lacking nothing, complete, perfect.† The verb is from classical Latin consummÄ t-, past participial stem of consummÄ re, â€Å"to add up, make up, to bring to an end, finish off, to complete, finish, to achieve, accomplish, to perfect.† A â€Å"consummate liar† is one who is extremely accomplished in the telling of falsehoods. â€Å"To consummate a marriage† is to complete it with sexual union. â€Å"To consummate a business deal† is to complete such arrangements as signing contracts and transferring deeds. Try as I may, I cannot stretch any of these meanings to fit the context of the quotation given above. An adjective that would fit the context is commensurate [kuh-MEN-suh-rit or kuh-MEN-shuur-it], a word that comes from Latin commensuratus: com (together) + mensurare (to measure). The writer’s meaning is that the coverage of the speaker is not in proportion to the size of the crowds he attracts. The coverage and the crowds â€Å"do not measure up,† that is, the coverage â€Å"is not commensurate† with the crowds. A web search indicates that the error is not unique to the person who wrote the example that prompted this post: INCORRECT: Your high turnover rates are due to the fact that the amount of work demanded is not consummate to the pay offered.   CORRECT : Your high turnover rates are due to the fact that the amount of work demanded is not commensurate with the pay offered.   INCORRECT: The point Waddle was trying to make was Beckham’s ability was not consummate to his fame. CORRECT : The point Waddle was trying to make was Beckham’s ability was not commensurate with his fame. INCORRECT: The amount of money being run by on-the-ground event-driven managers in Europe is not consummate to the size of the market. CORRECT : The amount of money being run by on-the-ground event-driven managers in Europe is not commensurate with the size of the market. INCORRECT: AGL [Australian energy provider]cautions against proposals that will result in a significant cost imposition on ACT electricity consumers that is not consummate to the benefits provided. CORRECT : AGL [Australian energy provider]cautions against proposals that will result in a significant cost imposition on ACT electricity consumers that is not commensurate with the benefits provided. Used as an adjective, consummate means â€Å"complete† or â€Å"perfect.† It is usually followed by the noun it qualifies: â€Å"consummate actor,† â€Å"consummate politician,† etc. The adjective commensurate, â€Å"corresponding in size, extent, amount, or degree,† is conventionally followed by with (not to). Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Misused Words category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:Useful Stock Phrases for Your Business Emails"Wracking" or "Racking" Your Brain?â€Å"Least,† â€Å"Less,† â€Å"More,† and â€Å"Most†