Consider

v. Also 4 -sidere, 4–6 -syder, -sydre, 5 -sydyr, -sydure, -ceder, -cidre, 5–6 -seder, -sidre, 6 (Sc.) -sydder. [a. F. considérer (14th c. in Littré), ad. L. consīderāre to look at closely, examine, contemplate, f. con- + a radical (found also in de-sīderāre to miss, desire), according to Festus, derived from sīdus, sīder- star, constellation. The vb. might thus be originally a term of astrology or augury, but such a use is not known in the Lat. writers.]

  1.  To view or contemplate attentively, to survey, examine, inspect, scrutinize. arch.

c. 1425.  Wyntoun, Cron., VIII. xxvii. 121. Thai consydryd noucht the Plas.

1535.  Coverdale, Nehem. ii. 15. Then wente I on in the nighte … & considered [1611 viewed] y^e wall. Ibid., Prov. xxxi. 16. She considreth londe [1611 a field] and byeth it.

1667.  Milton, P. L., IX. 84. And with inspection deep Consider’d every Creature.

1717.  Lady M. W. Montague, in Four C. Eng. Lett., 204. I was sorry that decency did not permit me to consider them nearer.

1802.  Mar. Edgeworth, Moral T. (1816), I. xvi. 139. The girl … considered Forester with anxious attention.

1842.  Tennyson, Two Voices, 241. Consider well … His face, that two hours since hath died.

  2.  intr. To look attentively.

c. 1400.  Lanfranc’s Cirurg., 131. I considere if þat þe pacient be ful of blood … & if he be ȝong & litil blood bled at his wounde. Ibid., 133. Þanne I considere if þat ilke slendynge perce al þe brayn panne.

1611.  Bible, Lev. xiii. 13. Then the Priest shall consider: and behold, if the leprosie haue couered al his flesh, he shal pronounce him cleane.

  3.  trans. To contemplate mentally, fix the mind upon; to think over, meditate or reflect on, bestow attentive thought upon, give heed to, take note of.

1375.  Barbour, Bruce, I. 114. Had ȝe … consideryt his vsage, That gryppyt ay, but gayne-gevyng.

c. 1460.  Towneley Myst., 93. This is a good lesson Us to consydure.

1533.  More, Debell. Salem, iii. Wks. 936/1. Rede and consyder it who so list, for I can see nothynge in it to be considered by mee.

1605.  Shaks., Lear, III. iv. 107. Is man no more then this? Consider him well.

1711.  Hearne, Collect., III. 103. I doubt it, and must consider it at leisure.

1808.  J. Webster, Nat. Phil., 13. Natural Philosophy is that science which considers the powers of nature.

1875.  Jowett, Plato (ed. 2), IV. 129. This was a problem which the Eleatic philosophers had never considered.

  b.  To consider away: to drive away by consideration or reflection. rare.

a. 1677.  Barrow, Serm., in Beauties of B. (1846), 177. Who from vain opinions is proud, cannot, without considering away those opinions, prove humble.

  4.  with obj. clause: To think, reflect, take note.

c. 1391.  Chaucer, Astrol., Prol. Considere wel that I ne vsurpe nat to haue fownde this werk of … myn engin.

1483.  Caxton, Cato, G iv. Thou must consyder thy seruantes be men as thou arte.

c. 1575.  Fulke, Confut. Doctr. Purgatory, 370. He did not consider, that [it] … was a sacrifice of thankes giuing and not of prayers for them.

1590.  Shaks., Com. Err., IV. i. 68. Consider how it stands vpon my credit.

1634.  Ford, P. Warbeck, I. ii. Consider whose thou art, and who.

1726.  W. R. Chetwood, Adv. Capt. R. Boyle, 54. Only consider my time is very short.

1771.  Junius Lett., xlix. 254. Consider how much of it would have been lost to the world.

1875.  Jowett, Plato (ed. 2), I. 437. Consider, further, my friend, whether you and I are agreed.

  5.  intr. To think deliberately, bethink oneself, reflect.

c. 1460.  Fortescue, Abs. & Lim. Mon., vi. Hereinne it nedith not to considre or to purvey, but only ffor the kynges house.

1535.  Coverdale, 1 Chron. xxii. [xxi.] 15. And euen in the destruccion the Lorde considered, and he repented of the euel.

1602.  Shaks., Ham., V. i. 227. ’Twere to consider to curiously to consider so. Ibid. (1611), Cymb., II. iii. 20.

1726.  W. R. Chetwood, Adv. Capt. R. Boyle, 3. I … found the door shut. Standing a Moment to consider, I heard a Man’s Voice speaking to my Mistress.

1738.  Pope, Epil. Sat., II. 43. The matter’s weighty, pray consider twice.

1890.  Besant, Demoniac, i. 16. Mr. Atheling, sir, consider: you’ll kill yourself!

  fig.  1700.  Dryden, Fables, Meleager & A., 252. The tears that stood consid’ring in her eyes.

  † b.  To take heed, be careful to do a thing. Obs.

1646.  H. Lawrence, Comm. Angells, 60. Let them consider to get loose; or they will find a worse state behinde.

1677–8.  Marvell, Corr., Wks. 1872–5, II. 598. The said Committee do consider to make a distinction of Popish Recusants from other Dissenters from the Church of England.

  † 6.  trans. To estimate, reckon, judge of. Obs.

c. 1391.  Chaucer, Astrol., I. § 17. By this cercle equinoxial ben considered the 24 howres of the Clokke.

1398.  Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., V. vi. (1495), 112. The werkyng of the eye is demyd and considered by sharpe and dymme.

1539.  Taverner, Erasm. Prov. (1552), 12. By one consider all, that is to say, of the profe of one thynge, coniecture the reste.

  7.  To take into practical consideration or regard; to show consideration or regard for; to regard, make allowance for.

c. 1385.  Chaucer, L. G. W., Prol. 408. Than oght a God … Consydre his owen honour, and hys trespas.

c. 1460.  Fortescue, Abs. & Lim. Mon., xii. Theise ffolke consideren litill the good off the reaume off Englond.

1535.  Coverdale, Ps. xl. 1. Blessed is he y^t considreth y^e poore.

1646.  Sir T. Browne, Pseud. Ep., I. ii. 6. We now doe hope the mercies of God will consider our degenerated integrities unto some minoration of our offences.

1771.  Antiq. Sarisb., Lives of Bps., 165. Until the Restoration, when his sufferings and merits were considered, and he promoted to Winchester.

1873.  Black, Pr. Thule, xxiv. 393. I think you should consider yourself a little bit now.

  † 8.  To recognize or take account of the services of (a person) in a practical way; to requite, recompense, remunerate: see CONSIDERATION 5, 6. Obs.

1585.  Abp. Sandys, Serm. (1841), 29–30. Consider the holy father for his parchment and lead.

a. 1601.  J. Hooker, Life Sir P. Carew (1857), 67. Nevertheless the queen considered him very liberally and gave him very good things.

1603.  Shaks., Meas. for M., I. ii. 114. You that haue worne your eyes almost out in the seruice, you will be considered. Ibid. (1611), Wint. T., IV. ii. 19.

1633.  T. Stafford, Pac. Hib., viii. (1821), 110. So that your Honour consider us with a peece of money.

1698.  H. Wanley, in Lett. Lit. Men (Camden), 264. If … the University will consider me for it, I will bring it along with me.

  9.  To hold in or treat with consideration or regard; to think much or highly of; to esteem, respect.

1692.  J. M., Zingis, 176. Almandzar was consider’d according to his Desert.

a. 1714.  Burnet, Own Time, II. 3. The King considered him.

1779–81.  Johnson, L. P., Milton, Wks. II. 118. A pamphlet … which was … enough considered to be both seriously and ludicrously answered.

1848.  Macaulay, Hist. Eng., I. 513. A man who unites eloquence, knowledge, and habits of business, to opulence and illustrious descent must be highly considered.

  10.  To regard in a certain light or aspect; to look upon (as), think (to be), take for.

a. 1533.  Ld. Berners, Huon, lxxxi. 250. Consyderyng his dedes and saynges to be true.

1659.  Vulg. Errors Censured, 66. They split presently against the Rock of Ages, considered as Man, who might support them considered as God.

1784.  J. Potter, Virt. Villagers, II. 69. He considers wealth of little importance.

1797–1804.  Bewick, Brit. Birds (1847), I. 116. This species is not considered with us as migratory.

1842.  Marryat, P. Keene, xxi. He is considered a rich man.

1875.  Bryce, Holy Rom. Emp., iii. (ed. 5), 23. [This] was considered the most solemn of all oaths.

1889.  A. Lang, Prince Prigio, vi. 40. Sir! you have insulted your prince … Consider yourself under arrest!

  b.  with obj. and compl. or obj. clause: To think, be of opinion, suppose.

1830.  D’Israeli, Chas. I., III. v. 73. He was often considered to speak in anger, when nothing was so intended.

1875.  Jevons, Money (1878), 92. He considers that the principal currency should consist of decagrams of gold.

Mod.  I consider him to have acted disgracefully.

  11.  To consider of: to think attentively or carefully of; = sense 3. (Now somewhat archaic.) † Formerly also in senses 1, 7, and 9.

1568.  Grafton, Chron., II. 306. In taking their leave … they shewed him their necessitie, desiring hym to consyder of them.

a. 1571.  Jewel, Serm., 1 Thess. ii. 14–6, Wks. (Parker Soc.), 839. We must also carefully consider of other churches abroad.

1576.  Fleming, Panopl. Epist., 21. The office … will be better considered off on your behalfe.

1611.  Bible, Transl. Pref., 8. [They] set them forth openly to be considered of and perused by all.

1650.  Cromwell, Lett. & Sp. (1871), III. 81. I have considered of the letter.

1775.  Sheridan, Rivals, II. i. I give you six hours and a half to consider of this.

1837.  Hawthorne, Twice-told T., P. Goldthwaite’s Treas. And so, Peter, you won’t even consider of the business?

1860.  Ruskin, Mod. Paint., V. IX. x. § 8. 307. Let us consider of the Hesperides themselves.

1891.  Bank of Engl. Notice, in Times, 4 March. A General Court will be held at The Bank on Thursday … to consider of a Dividend.

  † b.  So consider on, upon: to ‘think upon.’

1606.  Holland, Sueton., 93. Whether … there fall out any occurrent to be considered upon with more care and diligence.

1655–60.  Stanley, Hist. Philos. (1701), 26/2. Consider on serious things.

1681–2.  Pennsylv. Archives, I. 39. If your Lordshipp will consider on it.

1785.  Candid Rem. Stage Bill, 8. It is the duty of every … Irishman to consider upon it.

  12.  Considered, the pa. pple. (formerly placed before its sb.), is used in an absolute clause, = ‘being taken into account.’ [OF. considéré que.] Cf. CONSIDERING prep.

c. 1385.  Chaucer, L. G. W., Prol. 225. Considered eke hir fret of golde above.

1426[?].  Lett. Marg. of Anjou (Camden, 1863), 33. Considered this that here is reherced. Ibid. (c. 1433), 51. Considered that the said Christopher may not goodly be oute of our service.

1485.  Caxton, Paris & V., 46. Consydered the grete loue that he hath alway had toward me.

1542.  Boorde, Dyetary, viii. (1870), 246. The stronge man doth hym selfe lytel pleasure, all thynges consydered.

1749.  F. Smith, Voy. Disc. N. W. Pass., II. 275. All the officers were unanimous that it was impracticable, the Peoples indisposition considered.

1784.  J. Potter, Virt. Villagers, I. 163. All things considered, I think it will be most adviseable for you to stifle your passion.

1788.  Gentl. Mag., LVIII. 1153. It is enough, considered how easy it is to copy out words from other Dictionaries.