「事物之間的協議,和諧」,14世紀晚期,congruite,來自古法語congruité「相關性,適當性」或直接來自晚期拉丁語congruitatem(主格congruens)「協議」,來自congruus「適合的,協議的」,來自congruere「同意,與...一致」,字面意思是「聚集在一起」,來自com「與,一起」(參見con-)的同化形式 + 一個已失去的動詞*gruere, *ruere「跌倒,衝向」(參見congruent)。
To their ful cups, "kinde thanks" was my returne, with Gentlemanlike protestations, as "Truely, sir, I dare not," "It stands not with the congruity of my health." Congruitie, said I! how came that strange language in my mouth? I thinke scarcely that it is any Christen worde, and yet it may be a good worde for ought I knowe, though I neuer made it, nor doe verye well understand it .... ["Kemp's Nine Daies Wonder," 1600]
對他們滿杯的「親切感謝」是我的回應,帶著紳士般的抗議,如「誠實地,先生,我不敢」,「這不符合我健康的協調性。」我說,協調性!這奇怪的語言怎麼會出現在我的嘴裡?我認為這幾乎不是任何基督教詞語,但我知道這可能是一個好詞,儘管我從未創造它,也不太理解它...... [《肯普的九日奇蹟》,1600年]