Also 3 kunsenten, 3–5 concent(e, 4–6 consente. [a. OF. cun-, consentir (3rd sing. pres. cunsent, consent) = Pr., Sp. consentir, It. consentire:—L. consentīre to feel together, agree, accord, harmonize, f. con- together + sentīre to feel, think, judge, etc. The sense, ‘consent to a thing being done’ was a subsequent development, but occurs in 12th c. in Fr., and is app. the earliest recorded in Eng.: see 6. As to the spelling concent, see CONSENT sb.]
I. To agree together.
1. intr. To agree together, or with another, in opinion or statement; to be of the same mind. Obs. or arch. (The statement agreed upon may be introduced by that.)
a. 1300. Cursor M., 9713 (Gött.). Til an bihouys vs all consent, And siþen schape þe iugement.
1535. Joye, Apol. Tindale, 11. Henrichus Bullyngerus … consenteth with me in the signification of this worde.
1555. Eden, Decades, 84. If wee shal consent that vapours are lyfted vp.
1600. Shaks., A. Y. L., V. i. 48. All your Writers do consent, that ipse is hee.
1646. Sir T. Browne, Pseud. Ep., II. iv. (1686), 61. With Plutarch consent many Authors.
1712. Steele, Spect., No. 490, ¶ 1. All the wiser Part of Mankind … has consented in an Error.
1865. Bushnell, Vicar. Sacr., V. (1868), 121. It may be seen how freely they consent in the testimony.
† b. To agree to a doctrine or statement, also to the author of it; to assent. Obs.
1382. Wyclif, Rom. vii. 16. I consente to the lawe, for [v.r. that] it is good.
c. 1400. Apol. Loll., 47. I Beringary concent to þe holi kirk of Rome.
1541. Elyot, Image Gov. (1549), 145. Whereunto my frendes also consenten.
1562. Turner, Herbal, II. 160 b. For these and other reasons I consente not unto Matthiolus.
1691. Ray, Creation, Ded. (1704), 3. I was sometimes compelled to consent to Cornelius Celsus.
1788. Lond. Mag., 32. This is what all must consent to who have been obliged to ride on horseback … after a hearty dinner.
† 2. To agree in sentiment, be in accord, be at one. So pa. pple. consented, agreed. Obs.
1382. Wyclif, Ecclus. xxv. 1. The looue of neȝhebores, and man and womman wel to themself consentende.
1611. Bible, Ps. l. 18. When thou sawest a thiefe, then thou consentedst with him.
1633. Ford, Broken Hrt., II. ii. 56. ’Thad been pity To sunder hearts so equally consented.
1651. Hobbes, Leviath., I. vi. Much less can all men consent in the desire of almost any one and the same object.
† 3. To come to agreement upon a matter or as to a course of action. Also pass. To be agreed.
1375. Barbour, Bruce, X. 820. Þan schir philip, þe douchty man, Tretit, quhill þai consentit weir, Þat [etc.].
1546. Langley, Pol. Verg. De Invent., II. x. 53 a. The Barceans consented on their leages thus.
1668. Wilkins, Real Char., I. i. § 2. 2. They began by degrees … to consent in certain Articulate Sounds, whereby to communicate their thoughts.
† 4. Of things: To agree, be in harmony. Obs.
1540. Morysine, Vives’ Introd. Wysd., K iv. Truthe ever consenteth to truth, falsehode neyther with truthe, nor yet with falsehode.
1597. Bacon, Coulers Good & Evill, vii. (Arb.), 147. Thinges like and consenting in qualitie.
1670. Baxter, Cure Ch. Div., 349. Nor is there any man whose thoughts and affections do perfectly consent with themselves in matter and order, any two hours in all his life.
a. 1679. Ld. Orrery, Hen. V., 1. If Truth consents to what you now relate.
1794. Martyn, Rousseau’s Bot. (ed. 4), 292. Fifty species all consent in a quinquefid calyx.
† 5. To act or be affected in sympathy. Obs.
1732. Berkeley, Alciphr., III. § 3. By means of the sensitive soul, our several distinct parts and members do consent towards the animal functions.
1744. Akenside, Pleas. of Imag., I. 110. Old Memnon’s image … to the quivering touch Of Titan’s ray, with each repulsive string Consenting, sounded … Unbidden strains.
1756. Burke, Subl. & B., IV. xi. It always made me start a little; the ear-drum suffered a convulsion, and the whole body consented with it.
II. To agree to a proposal, request, etc.
6. Voluntarily to accede to or acquiesce in what another proposes or desires; to agree, comply, yield. Const. to, to do a thing, or that with clause; also with indirect passive to be consented to.
a. 1225. Ancr. R., 272. So sone so me biginneð kunsenten to sunne.
c. 1290. S. Eng. Leg., I. 25/59. Ake ich ne concenti nouȝt þer-to.
1340. Ayenb., 10. Þou ne sselt naȝt consenti to do zenne mid þine bodye.
1382. Wyclif, Luke xxiii. 51. He consentide not to the counceil and dedis of hem.
c. 1450. Merlin, xiii. 195. The saisnes ne concented not to lete hym passe.
a. 1533. Ld. Berners, Huon, lxxxiii. 254. He wold haue consentyd to the deth of Huon.
1647. Clarendon, Hist. Reb., III. (1843), 77/2. This was no sooner proposed … than consented to.
1652. Gaule, Magastrom., 355. It is consented to admit him again.
1655. Fuller, Hist. Univ. Cambr., 122. His Holiness would never consent such Honour should be done to … a Schismatick.
1691. T. H[ale], Acc. New Invent., p. lxxi. The Conservators of the River consented, that … it should be gain’d in.
1848. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., I. 553. Argyle, after long resistance, consented … to divide his little army.
1875. Jevons, Money (1878), 238. When I induce my creditor to consent to my paying a month hence.
b. without const.
c. 1330. R. Brunne, Chron. (1810), 236. Hir frendes alle consent.
c. 1449. Pecock, Repr., III. xviii. 398. Y bihete or proteste or consente.
1527. R. Thorne, in Hakluyt, Voy. (1589), 257. The little space would not consent.
1635. Quarles, Embl., I. i. (1718), 7. It is the devil’s part to suggest: ours, not to consent.
1819. Byron, Juan, I. cxvii. A little still she strove, and much repented, And whispering ‘I will ne’er consent’—consented.
† c. refl. in same sense. Obs.
1340. Ayenb., 249. Þo he him consented to þe uondinge.
c. 1500. Melusine (1889), 182. I me consent to your requeste.
† d. Const. to a person, i.e., to his request. Obs.
1535. Coverdale, 2 Chron. x. 16. Whan all Israel sawe that the kynge wolde not consente vnto them.
1611. Bible, Gen. xxxiv. 15. In this will we consent vnto you.
† 7. To be consented: to be agreed; to be an accessary or consenting party (to something). Obs.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Doctor’s T., 276. That were consented to this cursednesse.
1440. J. Shirley, Dethe K. James (1818), 14. And he knewe well … and was consentid therto.
c. 1485. Digby Myst. (1882), iii. 1713. Ȝe ar consentyd to þat dede.
† 8. trans. To allow, agree to, consent to. Obs.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Clerk’s T., 481. Grisild moot al suffer and al consent.
1481. Caxton, Myrr., III. viii. 145. This consenteth and permyseth he that is almyghty.
1534. More, On the Passion, Wks. 1283/2. That can I ful hardly consent.
1588. R. Parke, trans. Mendoza’s Hist. China. In the end … they consented a conclusion amongest themselues.
† b. with inf. compl.
1643. Milton, Divorce (1644), II. iii. 38. Interpreters upon that passage in Hosea will not consent it to be a true story, that the Prophet took a Harlot to wife.
† 9. To consent to give; to concede. Obs. rare.
1393. Langl., P. Pl., C. III. 90. The countee of couetise he consenteþ to boþe.
