Etymologically
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consecutive

This is the current revision of this entry, as edited by bogdan on 16 October 2026 at 13:19. This address is a permanent link to this version.
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Pronunciation

  • IPA: /kənˈsɛkjʊtɪv/[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from French consécutif, consécutive,[2][3][4] from Medieval Latin consecutivus, from consecut-, the past participle stem of cōnsequī (“to follow closely”),[2][3][5] from com- (“with, together”) and sequī (“to follow”) (see sequel).[3][2]

Earliest recorded meaning

Following continuously, each after the one before: 1611, in Cotgrave's French-English dictionary.[2][6] Etymonline dates it to the 1610s.[3]

Semantic evolution

Following as a consequence is from 1647 and obsolete.[6] Consisting of elements in order is from 1755.[6] In music, consecutive fifths and octaves are from 1819,[6] and in grammar, expressing a consequence or result, from 1871.[6]

Timeline

  • 1611 – following in succession.[2][6]
  • 1647 – following as a result (obsolete).[6]
  • 1819 – in music.[6]
  • 1871 – in grammar.[6]

Modern meaning

Adjective

  1. Following one after another without interruption: three consecutive wins.
  2. (grammar) Expressing consequence or result.

Word family

  • consecutively
  • consecutiveness
  • inconsecutive
  • nonconsecutive
  • unconsecutive

References

  1. ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e Barnhart, Robert K. (1988), The Barnhart Dictionary of Etymology
  3. ^ a b c d Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  4. ^ Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
  5. ^ Pearsall, Judy, ed. (1998), The New Oxford Dictionary of English, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press