consequence
See also: conséquence
English
Etymology
From Middle English consequence, from Old French consequence [1], from Latin consequentia. While analysable as con- + sequence, its adjective form has a different origin.
Pronunciation
- (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ˈkɒnsɪkwɛns/
- (General American) IPA(key): /ˈkɑnsɪkwɛns/, /ˈkɑnsɪkwəns/
Audio (US) (file)
Noun
consequence (plural consequences)
- That which follows something on which it depends; that which is produced by a cause.
- 1992, Rudolf M[athias] Schuster, The Hepaticae and Anthocerotae of North America: East of the Hundredth Meridian, volume V, New York, N.Y.: Columbia University Press, →ISBN, page 7:
- The lobule margins, furthermore, are arched away from the lobe, with the consequence that (when fully inflated) the abaxial leaf surface forms the interior lining of the lobule.
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- A result of actions, especially if such a result is unwanted or unpleasant.
- I'm warning you. If you don't get me the report on time, there will be consequences.
- 2013 September-October, Michael Sivak, “Will AC Put a Chill on the Global Energy Supply?”, in American Scientist:
- Nevertheless, it is clear that the global energy demand for air-conditioning will grow substantially as nations become more affluent, with the consequences of climate change potentially accelerating the demand.
- A proposition collected from the agreement of other previous propositions; any conclusion which results from reason or argument; inference.
- Chain of causes and effects; consecution.
- Importance with respect to what comes after.
- The power to influence or produce an effect.
- (especially when preceded by "of") Importance, value, or influence.
- 1848 November – 1850 December, William Makepeace Thackeray, chapter 19, in The History of Pendennis. […], volume (please specify |volume=I or II), London: Bradbury and Evans, […], published 1849–1850, OCLC 2057953:
- Thus young Pen, the only son of an estated country gentleman, with a good allowance, and a gentlemanlike bearing and person, looked to be a lad of much more consequence than he was really; and was held by the Oxbridge authorities, tradesmen, and undergraduates, as quite a young buck and member of the aristocracy.
- 2011 September 2, Phil McNulty, “Bulgaria 0-3 England”, in BBC:
- Rooney's United team-mate Chris Smalling was given his debut at right-back and was able to adjust to the international stage in relatively relaxed fashion as Bulgaria barely posed a threat of any consequence.
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Synonyms
- The terms below need to be checked and allocated to the definitions (senses) of the headword above. Each term should appear in the sense for which it is appropriate. For synonyms and antonyms you may use the templates
{{syn|en|...}}or{{ant|en|...}}.
- aftercome
- distinction
- implication
- moment
- rank
- repercussion
- value
Derived terms
- actions have consequences
- law of unintended consequences
- legal consequence
- unintended consequence
Related terms
English terms derived from the Proto-Indo-European root *sekʷ- (3 c, 0 e)
Collocations
with adjectives
- social consequence
- legal consequence
- environmental consequence
- political consequence
- economic consequence
- personal consequence
- cultural consequence
- moral consequence
- unintended consequence
- undesirable consequence
- likely consequence
- probable consequence
- necessary consequence
- logical consequence
- natural consequence
- important consequence
- significant consequence
- bad consequence
- disastrous consequence
- devastating consequence
- fatal consequence
- catastrophic consequence
- harmful consequence
Translations
that which follows something on which it depends
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result of actions, especially unpleasant
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proposition collected from the agreement of other previous propositions
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chain of causes and effects; consecution
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importance with respect to what comes after
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power to influence or produce an effect
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importance, value or influence
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- The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.
Translations to be checked
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See also
- causality
- effect
- impact
Verb
consequence (third-person singular simple present consequences, present participle consequencing, simple past and past participle consequenced)
- (transitive) To threaten or punish (a child, etc.) with specific consequences for misbehaviour.
- 1998, Terry M. Levy, Michael Orlans, Attachment, trauma, and healing
- The goal of consequencing is to teach the child a lesson that leads to positive choices and behaviors. The goal of punishment is to inflict pain and seek revenge. Angry parenting is punitive and ineffectual.
- 2001, Betty Bedard-Bidwell, Hand in Hand, page 117:
- These behaviours are not acceptable within a classroom setting and often result in the child being consequenced or removed from class.
- 1998, Terry M. Levy, Michael Orlans, Attachment, trauma, and healing
References
- Douglas Harper (2001–2023), “consequence”, in Online Etymology Dictionary.
Further reading
- consequence in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
- consequence in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911
- consequence at OneLook Dictionary Search