consequence
From Wiktionary, the free dictionary
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 (countable and uncountable, plural consequences)
- An effect; something that follows a cause as a result.
- 1992, Rudolf M[athias] Schuster, The Hepaticae and Anthocerotae of North America: East of the Hundredth Meridian, volume V, Chicago, Ill.: Field Museum of Natural History, →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.
- An unwanted or unpleasant effect.
- 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.
- consecution; chain of causes and effects.
- conclusion, deduction or inference; the thing concluded.
- (especially when preceded by "of") Importance, influence, or significance.
- My opinions are of no consequence whatsoever to my parents.
- 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:
- 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.
Synonyms
- (effect): aftercome
- (unwanted or unpleasant effect): repercussion
- (importance, influence, significance): moment, (hyponyms) distinction, rank, value
- (conclusion): implication
Derived terms
Related terms
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
chain of causes and effects; consecution
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importance with respect to what comes after
power to influence or produce an effect
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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
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.
References
- Douglas Harper (2001–2025) “consequence”, in Online Etymology Dictionary.
Further reading
- “consequence”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.
- “consequence”, in The Century Dictionary […], New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911, →OCLC.
- “consequence”, in OneLook Dictionary Search.
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