Wiktionary

consequence

See also: conséquence

EnglishEdit

EtymologyEdit

From Middle English consequence, from Old French consequence [1], from Latin consequentia.

PronunciationEdit

NounEdit

consequence (plural consequences)

  1. That which follows something on which it depends; that which is produced by a cause.
    • 1992, Rudolf M[athias] Schuster, The Hepaticae and Anthocerotae of North America: East of the Hundredth Meridian, volume V, New York, N.Y.: Columbia University Press, →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.
  2. A result of actions, especially if such a result is unwanted or unpleasant.
    I'm warning you. If you don't get me the report on time, there will be consequences.
  3. A proposition collected from the agreement of other previous propositions; any conclusion which results from reason or argument; inference.
  4. Chain of causes and effects; consecution.
  5. Importance with respect to what comes after.
  6. The power to influence or produce an effect.
  7. (especially when preceded by "of") Importance, value, or influence.
    • 1848-50, William Makepeace Thackeray, Pendennis, ch 19:
      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.

Usage notesEdit

  • Adjectives often applied to "consequence": social, legal, environmental, political, economic, personal, cultural, moral, unintended, undesirable, likely, probable, necessary, logical, natural, important, significant, bad, disastrous, devastating, fatal, catastrophic, harmful.

SynonymsEdit

Related termsEdit

English terms derived from the Proto-Indo-European root *sekʷ-‎ (3 c, 0 e)

TranslationsEdit

The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables, removing any numbers. Numbers do not necessarily match those in definitions. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.
Translations to be checked

See alsoEdit

VerbEdit

consequence (third-person singular simple present consequences, present participle consequencing, simple past and past participle consequenced)

  1. (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.

ReferencesEdit

  1. ^ Douglas Harper (2001–2022), “consequence”, in Online Etymology Dictionary.

Further readingEdit

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