[ad. F. concerte-r (16th c.), ad. It. concertare to proportion or accord together, to agree or tune together, to sing or play in concert.
The Italian is identified by Diez with L. concertāre intr., to contend zealously, dispute, debate. Such a change of sense might conceivably come about through an intermediate ‘argue out, settle by debate,’ whence ‘come to terms, arrange terms’; but evidence is wanting. Florio has, in 16th-c. It., conserto, consertare, as parallel forms of concerto, concertare; these (if real words) point to L. *consertāre freq. of conserĕre ‘to join or fit together, connect’; the same origin has been claimed by Spanish etymologists for Sp. concertar, which has among other senses ‘to mend a thing broken.’ But here the phonetic change is unexplained. Already in 16th-c. It. concerto was associated in the musical sense with concento (CONCENT); Florio, 1598, gives concerto merely with a cross-reference to concento. Hence a conjecture that concerto, concertare were perversions of conserto, consertare, under the influence of concento: but what then of Sp. concertar?
In Eng. used by Barret, from It., in 1598; app, not otherwise in use till taken from Fr. nearly a century later.]
† 1. trans. To bring to agreement or unity; to unite. Obs.
1598. Barret, Theor. Warres, II. i. 22. When as he cannot concert and agree them [soldiers], he is to referre them ouer vnto his Captaine.
1696. Brookhouse, Temple Open., 2. Being now concerted into a New Body.
2. To arrange or contrive (measures, an enterprise, etc.) by mutual agreement.
1694. Molesworth, Acc. Denmark (ed. 3), 47. A Design before concerted … between him and the Bishops.
1710. Swift, Lett. (1767), III. 35. I have been walking, and … concerting where to see Mr. Harley.
1725. De Foe, Voy. Round World (1840), 207. We began to concert measures for his coming on board with secrecy.
1836. Thirlwall, Greece, II. 21. The insurrection seems not to have been judiciously concerted.
b. Of a single person: To plan, devise, arrange.
1712. Hearne, Collect. (Oxf. Hist. Soc.), III. 498. I must now concert matters about yt Affair.
1878. Bosw. Smith, Carthage, 433. He could … concert his measures against any state.
c. intr. To arrange a matter by agreement with some one; to form plans. ? Obs.
1707. Freind, Peterborow’s Cond., 174. You may concert in every thing … with Prince Henry.
1786. T. Jefferson, Writ. (1859), I. 567. The gentlemen with whom we had before concerted.
1791. Boswell, Johnson, 2 June, an. 1781. I therefore concerted with Mr. Dilly, that I should steal away.
1796. Nelson, 10 July, in Nicolas, Disp. (1845), II. 208. We concerted on the most proper methods for speedily executing the Vice-Roy’s instructions.
3. intr. To sing or play in concert. rare.
1827. Pollok, Course T., VII. The thrush Concerting with the lark that hymned on high.
1879. [see CONCERTING].
4. Mus. (trans.) To arrange in parts. (nonce-use from CONCERTED 2, q.v.)
1884. G. Moore, Mummer’s Wife (1887), 160. [I do not know] whether I ought to concert that first number … or have it sung in unison.
† II. 5. [L. concertāre.] To dispute (a statement, etc.). Obs. rare.
1689. Apol. Failures Walker’s Acc., 11. Though Mr. Walker might modestly concert the Truth of those Passages … yet right he at no hand dispute inserting ’em.
