conséquence

Forms

conséquence f (plural conséquences)^[1] Old French also coinsiguance, in the 13th-century Livre de jostice.^[2]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Latin cōnsequentia (“sequence, succession”),^[3][4][5] formed on cōnsequēns, the present participle of cōnsequor (“to follow after”),^[5][6] from con- and sequor (“to follow”).^[6] In Late Latin the word also meant the chain of arguments leading to a conclusion.^[3][4]

Cognate with Old Occitan consequencia and Spanish consecuencia.^[2]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first found in 1253 in Pierre de Fontaines's Conseil, in the phrase trere qqc. a consequence, “to put forward a thing as a precedent for another like it”: a conséquence was what follows from a fact or an act.^[3][4] The Petit Robert dates the word to about 1240.^[7]

Semantic evolution

From the start the word meant the result that follows from an act or a fact, the sense that is still the usual one.^[3][4] Jean de Meun uses it in logic (between 1269 and 1278) for the necessary link between the premises of a syllogism and its conclusion.^[3][4] In the 16th and 17th centuries phrases such as de grande conséquence (1539), sans conséquence and homme de conséquence (1644) gave it the value “importance”;^[4][3] Rey thinks that this use lies behind the disputed sense “considerable” of the adjective conséquent.^[4][3] Bossuet has en conséquence de in 1681.^[3][4]

English consequence is recorded from the late 14th century, from Old French.^[6]

Timeline

• 1253 – Pierre de Fontaines uses trere a consequence.^[3][4]
• 1269–1278 – Jean de Meun uses it for the logical link in a syllogism.^[3]
• Late 14th century – English consequence is recorded.^[6]
• 1539 – Robert Estienne records de grande consequence “very important”.^[3][4]
• 1644 – Homme de consequence “important man” appears.^[3][4]
• 1681 – Bossuet uses en conséquence de.^[3]
• 1694 – The Académie records un homme sans consequence.^[3][4]

Meanings

Noun

1. A consequence, a result that follows from an act or a fact, as in Cette décision aura de lourdes conséquences pour la ville.^[7][3]
2. Tirer à conséquence: to matter, to have serious effects;^[7][4] sans conséquence: harmless, of no importance.^[7][4]
3. (dated) De conséquence: important, weighty: une affaire de conséquence.^[7][4]
4. (logic) What follows from a principle; a conclusion or corollary.^[7][2]
5. Par voie de conséquence: as a result.^[7]
6. (grammar) Proposition de conséquence: a consecutive clause.^[7]
7. En conséquence: accordingly;^[7][2] en conséquence de: in accordance with.^[7][2]

Related words

• consécutif
• consécution
• conséquemment
• conséquent
• inconséquence
• Latin cōnsequentia
• English consequence

References

1. ^ a b Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Trésor de la langue française informatisé (2004), ATILF – CNRS & Université de Lorraine, atilf.fr/tlfi; electronic version of Imbs, Paul; Quemada, Bernard, eds. (1971–1994), Trésor de la langue française, Paris: CNRS / Gallimard
4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
5. ^ a b Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
6. ^ a b c d Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
7. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert