Origin: 1350–1400;Middle English (< Middle Frenchconsumer) < Latinconsūmere, equivalent to con-con- + sūmere to take up (perhaps < *suzm- < *subzm- < *subs-(e)m-, equivalent to subs-, variant of sub-sub- + emere to take, buy)
late 14c., from L. consumere "to use up, eat, waste," from com- intensive prefix + sumere "to take," from sub- "under" + emere "to buy, take" (see exempt).