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consequence

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Pronunciation

  • IPA: /ˈkɒn.sɪ.kwəns/ (UK); /ˈkɑn.sɪ.kwəns/, /ˈkɑn.sɪˌkwɛns/ (US)[1]

Etymology

It is late Middle English, borrowed from Old French consequence (“result”) (modern French conséquence),[2][3][4] from Latin consequentia,[2][5] an abstract noun from consequēns, consequentem, present participle of consequī, to follow after,[2][3] from com-, with, together, and sequī, to follow (from PIE Proto-Indo-European *sekw- (“to follow”)).[2] See sequel.[6]

Earliest recorded meaning

A logical inference or conclusion: the late 14th century in Etymonline;[2] the OED's earliest quotation is by consequence, about 1391.[7]

Semantic evolution

That which follows from or grows out of an act or course, the main modern sense, is from about 1400.[2][7] The following of a conclusion from premises is from 1571,[7] and following in sequence from 1597.[7] Importance or moment arose in the 16th century in the phrase of consequence, properly having results.[3] In Yorkshire and Essex dialect it meant assumed importance, conceit.[8]

Timeline

  • c. 1391 – by consequence.[7]
  • c. 1400 – a result, effect.[7]
  • 16th century – importance.[3]
  • 1571 – logical sequence.[7]
  • 1597 – succession.[7]

Modern meaning

Noun

  1. A result or effect of an action or condition.
  2. An unpleasant result: to take the consequences.
  3. Importance or significance: of no consequence.
  4. Importance in rank or position.
  5. (logic) A conclusion reached by reasoning.

Word family

  • inconsequence
  • nonconsequence

References

  1. ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  3. ^ a b c d Hoad, T. F., ed. (1986), The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  4. ^ Pearsall, Judy, ed. (1998), The New Oxford Dictionary of English, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  5. ^ Klein, Ernest. A Comprehensive Etymological Dictionary of the English Language. 2 vols. Amsterdam: Elsevier, 1966–1967.
  6. ^ Cresswell, Julia (2021), Oxford Dictionary of Word Origins, 3rd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press
  8. ^ Wright, Joseph, ed. (1898–1905), The English Dialect Dictionary, 6 vols., Oxford: Henry Frowde; via EDD Online 4.0, University of Innsbruck (CC BY 4.0)