Also 6 -cusion, 6–7 -quution, -qution. [ad. L. consecūtiōn-em, n. of action from consequī: see prec. Also in F. from 16th c. (Littré).]
1. Proceeding in argument from one proposition to another which follows from it; logical sequence; inference; a train of reasoning.
Reciprocal consecution: the relation of two facts either of which follows from the other.
1532. More, Confut. Tindale, Wks. 454/1. As this argument or consecusion is trew.
1565. Calfhill, Answ. Treat. Cross (1846), 100. What a consecution is this … ‘The Crucifix is prefigured in Moses, in the Prophets, and in the time of Christ: therefore no remedy but a Crucifix must be had in the church.’
1652. Gaule, Magastrom., 189. Not necessary, nor of any rational consecution.
1709. Berkeley, Th. Vision, § 108. I do not, by any necessary consecution … judge of the number of things tangible from the number of things visible.
† b. The conclusion of an argument. Obs.
1588. Fraunce, Lawiers Log., I. iii. 19 b. For the confirmation of the said proposition, and not as proofes of the conseqution.
1689. Treat. Monarchy, II. i. 34. Suppose the Antecedent true, the Consequution is not always true.
† c. The fact of following as an effect, necessary consequence. Obs.
1615. Crooke, Body of Man, 352. If … the first muscle of the chest … do draw vp the first ribbe, then by conseqution the other distances vnder shall also in some sort be dilated.
1649. Bulwer, Pathomyot., II. i. 91. While they draw the Arme by a certaine kind of Consequution they lead the Scapula … together with it.
2. Succession, sequence (of events or phenomena).
1651. Biggs, New Disp., Pref. 7. Where is there an examination and a consecution of Experiments?
1792. G. Wakefield, Enquiry, 59. Preferring chronological consecution.
1836–7. Sir W. Hamilton, Metaph., xxxix. (1859), II. 393. The observation of a certain number of uniform consecutions among phenomena. Ibid., xli. (1870), II. 425. Psychology proposes to exhibit the mental phænomena in their natural consecution.
1837. G. S. Faber, Justification, 127. His next step, in regular consecution, was to speak of the Righteousness which is through faith.
1863. Mrs. C. Clarke, Shaks. Char., iii. 77. In all this subtle consecution of action.
b. Gram. Sequence of words in a sentence, of tenses in a compound sentence.
1871. Public School Lat. Gram., § 195, Consecution of Tenses.—The General Rule is: Primary Tenses in the Principal Sentence are followed by Primary Tenses in the Clause: Historic by Historic. Ibid., § 196. The Perfect Subjunctive is used in Primary or Historic Consecution, whenever the sense requires that Tense and Mood.
1883. A. Palmer, Satires of Horace, Pref. 28. The solecistic rusve peregre aut (solecistic, if we consider the very rare consecution of ve—aut).
c. Mus. Succession of similar intervals in harmony. Cf. CONSECUTIVE 5.
1667. C. Simpson, Compend. Mus., 125. I … allow the Consecution of two 5ths, one of them being Imperfect.
1674. Playford, Skill Mus., III. 33.
1744. J. Green, Psalmody (ed. 10), 140. Consecution, two, three, or more Chords of the same kind following one another.
1875. Ouseley, Harmony, xviii. 197. Such octaves are not … faulty consecutions.
† d. Month of consecution in Astr.: a ‘lunar’ or synodic month, a lunation. Obs.
1561. Eden, Arte Nauig., I. xi. 38. The moneth of consecution … is more then the moneth of peragration by .2. dayes .4. houres .44. minutes.
1646. Sir T. Browne, Pseud. Ep., 212. The month of Consecution … is the space betweene one conjunction of the Moon with the Sun unto another.
1694. W. Holder, On Time, i. 22. For she [the moon] makes also four Quarterly Seasons within her little Year, or Month of Consecution.
† 3. Overtaking, attainment. Obs. rare.
1601. Deacon & W., Spirits & Divels, 192. The diuell can now no more hinder the saints from the consequution of glorie.
