Word
consummate
Phoneticscon·sum·mate
/ˈkɑnsəˌmeɪt/
Definition
adj. showing a very high level of skill or perfection. You use this to describe someone who is a complete master of their craft.
adj. showing a high degree of skill and flair; complete or perfect in every respect. Often used attributively to describe professional mastery or personal qualities.
Examples
“She is a consummate professional who never misses a deadline.”
“The pianist performed with consummate skill, making the most difficult passages look effortless to the audience.”
“His reputation as a consummate liar made it impossible for the jury to believe even the verifiable parts of his testimony.”
Examples
simple
“She is a consummate professional who never misses a deadline.”
contextual
“The pianist performed with consummate skill, making the most difficult passages look effortless to the audience.”
complex
“His reputation as a consummate liar made it impossible for the jury to believe even the verifiable parts of his testimony.”
Usage
Typically placed before the noun it modifies. When used as an adjective, the stress is on the first syllable (CON-su-mate).
Pitfall
He is a professional consummate.
He is a consummate professional.
This adjective almost always precedes the noun it describes rather than following a linking verb.
Real-World Examples
“But like any consummate pro at the top of his game, the 42-year-old California native isn’t back at the scene of last year’s epicurean slaughter just to defend his title.” “The camera glides around what is essentially a sex hotel, as attempts to consummate their hasty marriage are hampered by other guests, interfering relatives and an unnaturally precocious child.” “Whatever one’s reservations about the work, it is undeniable that it offered the soprano ample opportunity to display her consummate acting skills as well as her vocal versatility.” Etymology
First attested in the beginning of the 15ᵗʰ century, in Middle English; inherited from Middle English consummat(e) (“(past participle) fulfilled, completed; (adjective) perfect, consummate”), borrowed from Latin cōnsummātus, perfect passive participle of cōnsummō (“to sum up, finish, complete”) (see -ate (adjective-forming suffix)), from con- (“together”) + summa (“a sum”) + -ō (verb-forming suffix); see sum, summation. Common participial usage up until Early Modern English.
First attested in c. 1525; either inherited from Middle English *consummaten (only attested in compound tenses) or directly borrowed from Latin consummātus, see -ate (verb-forming suffix) and Etymology 1 for more.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
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englishreference.com/q/consummate