Etymologically
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consistency

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Pronunciation

  • IPA: /kənˈsɪs.tən.si/[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Medieval Latin cōnsistentia (“a standing together”),[2][3] or directly from Latin cōnsistēns, standing firm, present participle of cōnsistere, to stand firm, halt (see consist and consistent),[2][3] from con-, together, and sistere, to stand, from the root of stand.[2]

Earliest recorded meaning

The condition in which matter holds together and keeps its form; firmness of matter: 1594.[4][5][2]

Semantic evolution

Degree of density or viscosity (the consistency of cream) is from before 1661.[4] Agreement or harmony with something is from 1658–9, the 1650s in Etymonline,[4][2] steady adherence to principles or patterns of action from 1716,[2][4] and the agreement of the parts of a system with each other from 1787.[2][4]

Timeline

  • 1594 – firmness of matter.[4][5]
  • 1658–9 – agreement, harmony.[4]
  • before 1661 – density, viscosity.[4]
  • 1716 – steadiness of conduct.[4][2]
  • 1787 – self-consistency.[4][2]

Modern meaning

Noun

  1. The quality of always behaving or performing in the same way; reliability.
  2. Agreement or logical coherence among things or parts.
  3. The degree of thickness or viscosity of a substance.

Word family

  • self-consistency

References

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