[a. F. conséquence (13th c. in Littré, = Pr. consequencia, It. consequenza), ad. L. consequentia, n. of state f. consequent-em: see CONSEQUENT and -ENCE.]
1. A thing or circumstance that follows as an effect or result from something preceding.
c. 1400. Rom. Rose, 6450. The consequence of such shryvyng.
1590. Shaks., Com. Err., V. i. 85. The consequence is then, thy iealous fits Hath scar’d thy husband from the vse of wits.
1641. J. Jackson, True Evang. T., III. 208. The direfull effects, and sad consequences of War.
1699. Burnet, 39 Articles, ix. (1700), 108. Death is the consequence of Adam’s Sin.
1792. Gouvr. Morris, in Sparks, Life & Writ. (1832), II. 205. As to consequences, they are in the hand of God.
1818. Cruise, Digest (ed. 2), I. 484. That the legal consequences of an actual seisin shall ensue.
1880. L. Stephen, Pope, iv. 91. His [Pope’s] unsocial habits … were a natural consequence of ill-health.
† b. To draw in(to) consequence: to carry into effect. Obs.
c. 1420. Hoccleve, Balade Crt. de bone Comp., 67. Ensaumpleth us … As that it seemeth good to your prudence … Dooth, as yow list be drawe in consequence.
1641. W. Hakewill, Libertie of Subj., 63. That such impositions … be not drawn into consequence, but taken away.
2. The action or condition of following as a result upon something antecedent; the relation of a result or effect to its cause or antecedent.
1656. trans. Hobbes’ Elem. Philos. (1839), 14. We seldom see clouds without the consequence of rain.
1667. Milton, P. L., X. 364. Such fatal consequence unites us three.
1830. Herschel, Stud. Nat. Phil., II. vi. (1851), 151. Invariable antecedence of the cause and consequence of the effect.
1864. Bowen, Logic, x. 336. The fixed Relations of antecedence and consequence which subsist between the changes.
† b. The action or fact of following in succession or order; sequence, succession; course. Obs.
1597. Morley, Introd. Mus., 79. If you will auoide the consequence of perfect cordes of one kinde, you must put betwixt them other concords.
1678. Hobbes, Decam., i. 14. They thought the Names of things sufficiently connected, when they are placed in their natural consequence.
1728. North, Mem. Musick (1846), 17. The people varyed their modes more or less in the consequence of time.
3. That which follows logically, or can be deduced or inferred; a logical result or inference. † Formerly, the conclusion of a syllogism as opposed to the premisses (obs.).
c. 1400. Rom. Rose, 7468. Shaltow never of apparence Seene conclude good consequence In none argument.
c. 1400. Test. Love, II. (1560), 284 b/1. The consequence is false, needes the antecedent mote beene of the same condition.
c. 1425. Wyntoun, Cron., VIII. iii. 68. Grantis, he sayd, þe antecedens; Bot I deny þe consequens.
1535. Joye, Apol. Tindale, 5. That he see not howe his antecedence may be true and consequence false.
1655–60. Stanley, Hist. Philos. (1701), 481/1. We may infer this Consequence.
1771. Junius Lett., lv. 291. If I admitted the premises, I should readily agree in all the consequences drawn from them.
1883. Froude, Short Stud., IV. I. vi. 63. The succeeding prelates … were too wise to press theories to their logical consequences.
b. The following of a conclusion from premisses; logical sequence.
1571. Golding, Calvin on Ps. v. 7. It is a very good consequence to say, Iniquitie is hatefull untoo God: ergo, he will take just vengeance of all wicked persones.
1638. Chillingw., Relig. Prot., I. i. § 10. The Conclusion is true, though the Consequence of it from your former Premisses either is none at all, or so obscure, that I can hardly discern it.
1751. Johnson, Rambler, No. 158, ¶ 7. To proceed from one truth to another, and connect distant propositions by regular consequences.
1864. Bowen, Logic, vii. 176. The essence of the Syllogism … is this necessary consequence of the Conclusion from the Premises.
4. Phr. In, by, of, consequence: as a result or inference, consequently.
a. By consequence. Now arch.
[c. 1391. Chaucer, Astrol., II. § 38. Par consequence, than the nader of the sowth lyne is the north lyne.]
1581. Marbeck, Bk of Notes, 230. I saie, that foolishlie & by consequence that falselie he alledgeth S. Augustin to his purpose.
c. 1680. Beveringe, Serm. (1729), I. 41. The catholick and by consequence one church.
1747. Wesley, Charac. Methodist, 10. By Consequence, whatsoever he doth, it is all to the Glory of God.
1885. Sir J. W. Chitty, in Law Times Rep., LIII. 712/2. The marriage was a Mahommedan and by consequence a polygamous marriage.
b. Of consequence. Obs. or vulgar.
1561. Daus, trans. Bullinger on Apoc. (1573), 22/b. Before euery of these Epistles, and therfore of consequence before the Epistle to the Ephesians.
1605. Bacon, Adv. Learn., I. vi. § 6. Man’s employment must of consequence have been matter of delight in the experiment.
1754. Richardson, Grandison, II. xxxiii. 321.
1780. Johnson, Lett., 8 April, in Boswell. Your countenance may be of great credit, and of consequence of great advantage to her.
1818. Jas. Mill, Brit. India, II. V. iv. 431. He was rather more intemperate than his predecessor; and of consequence created rather more animosity in his opponents.
1848. Fraser’s Mag., XXXVIII. 228. Whatever part Jenny Lind takes, is of consequence the first.
c. In consequence. (The phrase now current.) In consequence of: as a result of.
1683. Dryden, Wks. (1808), XVII. 100. In consequence of this, to make an exact description of the principal actions.
1775. Tender Father, II. 151. And, in consequence, it frequently happened, that [etc.].
1827. Hallam, Const. Hist. (1842), II. 392. What took place in consequence I am not apprised.
1879. Lockyer, Elem. Astron., i. 26. Our Sun at setting … seems sometimes blood red, in consequence of the absorption of our atmosphere.
1880. Geikie, Phys. Geog., IV. xxiv. 241. Iron is the principal substance contained in the water, which has in consequence a strong inky taste.
† d. In the consequence: in the sequel or result.
1659. Burton’s Diary (1828), IV. 459. I fear, in the consequence, it will prove an allowance of such meetings for the future.
1725. De Foe, Voy. round World (1840), 45. Doing justice upon the offenders … had this disadvantage in the consequence; viz. that it would ruin the voyage.
† 5. Of good, bad, etc., consequence: fraught with such and such results. Obs.
1654. Hammond, Fundamentals, xiv. 130. It is asserted without any pretense or colour of scripture-proof,… it is of very ill consequence to the superstructing of good life.
1662. Bk. Com. Prayer, Pref. We have rejected all such [alterations] as were either of dangerous consequence … or else of no consequence at all, but utterly frivolous and vain.
1774. J. Bryant, Mythol., I. 169. He speaks of it as a circumstance of very bad consequence.
1829. I. Taylor, Enthus., ix. 216, note. Ignatius … set an example of unhappy consequence to the Church.
6. Importance, moment, weight. Originating in the attributive phr. of consequence: i.e., having issues or results, and therefore important. Cf. prec. and Fr. une matière de conséquence ‘a matter of importance, moment, or weight’ (Cotgr., 1611).
a. [1489. Caxton, Faytes of A., I. xx. 64. By cause that thys thynge bereth grete weyght of consequense, he shall take thaduys of them of hys counseyll.]
1593. Shaks., Rich. II., V. ii. 60. It is a matter of small consequence.
1611. Bible, Transl. Pref., 1. As often as we do any thing of note or consequence, we subiect our selues to euery ones censure.
1662. [see 5].
1699. Bentley, Phal., 242. These little differences are of no consequence.
1741. Richardson, Pamela, I. 52. You are of more Consequence to him, than you think for.
1757. (title) A Review of the Military Operations in North America … To which are added … several Letters and other Papers of Consequence.
1832. Lander, Adv. Niger, II. ix. 54. Nothing of consequence has occurred to-day.
b. 1778. Sir J. Reynolds, Disc., viii. (1876), 449. Both these qualities of the mind are to have their proper consequence, as far as they do not counteract each other.
1796. Morse, Amer. Geog., II. 409. [He] found it impracticable to raise a glass manufacture into consequence.
1845. Ford, Handbk. Spain, I. 84. Personal respect, to which Spaniards always attached infinite consequence.
1875. Whitney, Life Lang., xiv. 283. It possesses the highest consequence.
7. In reference to persons: Importance in rank and position, social distinction. Cf. ‘quality.’
1602. Carew, Cornwall (1811), 412. Such and such had made use of his Lordships name … to make themselves men of consequence.
1714. Swift, Pres. State Affairs, Wks. 1755, II. I. 214. A person of some consequence.
1770. Langhorne, Plutarch (1879), II. 1034/1. Brutus now felt his consequence lie heavy upon him.
1867. Lady Herbert, Cradle L., vii. 188. Our guard … told him that we were persons of great consequence.
1879. Froude, Cæsar, iii. 22. No form of property gives to its owners so much consequence as land.
† b. Importance manifested by appearance or demeanor; dignity. Also transf. of things. Obs.
1793. W. Hodges, Trav. India, 87. Adjacent to which are many hills, rising almost to the consequence of mountains.
1798. Jane Austen, Northang. Ab., i. Her figure gained more consequence.
c. Assumed importance, consequentiality.
1791. Huddesford, Salmag., 19 Shield me … From Pedantry of formal port, And Consequence in Cassoc short.
1832. Mrs. F. Trollope, Dom. Manners Amer., xvii. (1839), 140. We quitted Cincinnati the beginning of March … We … had amused ourselves with its consequence, its taste, and its ton.
8. Astr. Motion from an earlier to a later sign of the Zodiac, or from west to east; direct motion; also a position more to the east.
1683. Phil. Trans., XIII. 407. Jupiter being in consequence of the Sun, add the difference.
1771. Pemberton, ibid., LXI. 442. If the point s is taken in consequence of the moon, it will be above the horizon, when the nonagesime degree is also in consequence of the moon.
1797. Encycl. Brit., II. 506/2. This motion, from west to east, is said to be in the order of the signs, or in consequence.
9. Consequences: a round game, in which a narrative of the meeting of a lady and a gentleman, their conversation, and the ensuing ‘consequences,’ is concocted by the contribution of a name or fact by each of the players, in ignorance of what has been contributed by the others.
1796. Jane Austen, Sense & Sens., xxiii. (1833), 121. They met for … playing at cards or consequences, or any other game that was sufficiently noisy.
1869. in Boy’s Own Book.
