What does the < in the history in Encarta Dictionary mean?

Question

If I look up "consolidate" in Encarta Dictionary. There is a small history or origins related to the word. Like the following:
[Early 16th century. < Latin consolidat-, past participle of consolidare "make solid" < solidus "firm, whole"]
What does the < mean?

Answer 1

The sign means "derived from".

In other words, this entry tells you that the word "consolidate" came from the Latin form "consolidat-", a form of the verb "consolidare", and that THIS word came from the word "solidus"

Answer 2

i'd say they're breaking it down so u understand it.