Also 4 -acoun, 5 -acioun, 5–6 -acion, etc. [a. F. considération (12th c.), ad. L. consīderātiōn-em, from consīderāre to CONSIDER.] The action of considering.
† 1. The action of looking at or surveying with the bodily or mental eyes; beholding, contemplation, Obs.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Pars. T., ¶ 664. Remedies against Accidie … in consideracioun of the peynes of helle and of the ioyes of heuene.
1460. Capgrave, Chron., 30. [Atlas] was mech used to dwell in that hil, for most sikir consideracion of sterris.
1477. Earl Rivers (Caxton), Dictes, 122. If he hath this in consideracion, he shulde not longe be wroth.
1578. Timme, Caluine on Gen., 29. The consideration which God had of his worke with delectation.
1651. Hobbes, Leviath., I. xi. 51. Curiosity … draws a man from consideration of the effect, to seek the cause.
† b. Manner of viewing (a thing); aspect. Obs.
c. 1400. Lanfranc’s Cirurg., 11. Þilke .xvj. aftir sum consideracioun moun be naturel to sum man, & [to] sum man unnaturel.
† c. An observation. Obs.
1477. Earl Rivers (Caxton), Dictes, 104. Tholome … made hys consideracions in the tyme of kyng Adryan, and made hys dictions vpon the consideracions at Roodes.
2. The keeping of a subject before the mind; attentive thought, reflection, meditation.
1388. Wyclif, Prol., 44. Turned in mynde bi diligent consideracoun.
1393. Gower, Conf., III. 178. With wise consideration.
1590. Sir J. Smyth, Disc. Weapons, Sig. *iv. Men … that have read diverse notable Histories, with consideration and judgement.
1599. Shaks., Hen. V., I. i. 28. At that very moment, Consideration like an Angell came, And whipt th’ offending Adam out of him.
1676. Ray, Corr. (1848), 123. Upon serious consideration … I resolved not to add them.
1729. Butler, Serm., Wks. 1874, II. 95. Cases … in which there is no time for consideration.
1826. Disraeli, Viv. Grey, VI. v. 334. That request will receive his most attentive consideration.
1828. Scott, F. M. Perth, ii. After a moment’s consideration.
b. (with pl.) A thought, a reflection.
1489. Caxton, Faytes of A., III. viii. 184. For to determyne hys questyon grete consyderacyons must be had.
1665. Boyle, Occas. Refl., IV. vi. (1675), 208. The same Subject … did … suggest very differing considerations to you and me.
1712. Swift, Let. Eng. Tongue, Wks. 1755, II. I. 186. I return to those considerations upon our own language, which I would humbly offer.
c. Phr. To take into consideration, under consideration.
1652. Needham, trans. Selden’s Mare Cl., 16. It remains that [the Law] … of Dominion or Ownership bee taken into consideration.
1657. Earl Monm., trans. Paruta’s Pol. Disc., 104. In the behalf thereof, these things may be had into consideration.
1665. Boyle, Occas. Refl., Introd. Pref. (1675), 22. Particulars that happen to fall under consideration.
1711. Addison, Spect., No. 72, ¶ 5. The Club had it under consideration whether they should … continue their Session.
1817. Parl. Debates, 17. The Chancellor of the Exchequer then moved, that their lordships’ message should be taken into consideration.
3. The action of taking into account, or fact of being taken into account; regard, account.
1548. Latimer, Ploughers (Arb.), 36. There be so manie put offes … so many respectes and considerations of worldly wisedome.
1653. H. Cogan, trans. Pinto’s Trav., xxii. 78. He would be carried to it [a resolution] by the consideration of his own gain and interest.
1714. Lady M. W. Montague, Lett., lxxxix. 145. I … speak … without any consideration, but that of your figure and reputation.
1831. Brewster, Optics, iv. 35. In spherical surfaces the consideration of the tangent MN is unnecessary.
b. In consideration of: in view of, upon taking into account, in respect of, in return for. Cf. 4.
1540. Act 32 Hen. VIII., c. 42. Wherefore, in consideration of the premisses, be it enacted, etc.
1653. H. Cogan, trans. Pinto’s Trav., lxxvi. 310. Who in consideration of ten duckets that we gave them, fell to diving into the sea.
1818. Jas. Mill, Brit. India, II. IV. ix. 286. In consideration of this benefit they should pay into the exchequer 400,000l. every year.
1875. Jevons, Money (1878), 119.
4. The taking into account of anything as a motive or reason; a fact or circumstance taken, or to be taken, into account; a reason considered.
This sense ranges indefinitely between the process of considering and the fact or matter considered, without being quite identified with either: cf. REASON. Thus ‘these considerations lead me’ = the consideration of these facts, or these facts being considered, lead me; ‘I put before you these considerations’ = facts to be considered.
c. 1460. Fortescue, Abs. & Lim. Mon., xv. By wich consideracion the spirituell juges … taken but cc. ffrankes by þe yere. Ibid., xvii. Be consideracion wher off þer olde maistirs shall be bettir serued be thaym.
1480. Bury Wills (1850), 58. I … John Smyth, for diuerse causez and consyderacyonys shewyd vnto me, will, ordeyne and declare, etc.
1526. Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 4 b. Onely for yt consideracyon they were gyuen.
1597. Shaks., 2 Hen. IV., II. ii. 14. I do now remember the poore Creature, Small Beere. But indeede these humble considerations make me out of loue with my Greatnesse.
1662. Bk. Com. Pr., Pref. It is but reasonable, that upon weighty and important considerations … such changes and alterations should be made.
1788. Priestley, Lect. Hist., II. xii. 95. [It] is pretty evident from a variety of considerations.
1860. Mrs. Carlyle, Lett., III. 40. To have a doctor for one’s host was a consideration of some weight with me.
1867. Smiles, Huguenots, viii. 134. Induced to adopt this course by considerations of state policy.
5. Something given in payment; a reward, remuneration; a compensation, equivalent.
1607. Norden, Surv. Dial., 57. The heyre payeth this reliefe, as a consideration and recompence … unto the Lord.
1611. Coryat, Crudities, 69. They hoped that I would giue them some consideration to be carryed in a chaire to the toppe.
1624. Capt. Smith, Virginia (1629), 73. We … gave them copper … in consideration.
1709. Steele, Tatler, No. 88, ¶ 12. It was his Profession to teach it, and [he] could not communicate his Knowledge without a Consideration.
1827. O. W. Roberts, Voy. Centr. Amer., 36. Hogs, fowls … and fruits, were … sold to us at a very trifling consideration.
1868. M. Pattison, Academ. Org., § 4. 93. The income of this fellowship forms no part of the consideration paid for tuitional services.
1884. Graphic, 23 Aug., 187/2. To take third-class tickets and induce the guard (of course, for a consideration) to place them in a superior class carriage.
6. Law. Anything regarded as recompense or equivalent for what one does or undertakes for another’s benefit; especially, in the law of contracts, ‘the thing given or done by the promisee in exchange for the promise’ (Langdell, 1880, § 45). It may itself be a promise. No promise is enforceable without consideration, unless made by deed.
At its first appearance (see quot. 1530) it is hardly a technical term, or distinguishable from motive; it gradually acquired its precise technical meaning in the course of the 17–18th c. Natural affection was formerly called good consideration, as contrasted with valuable c., or that which is deemed to have value in a pecuniary sense: the distinction is now only of historical interest.
1530. Doctor & Student, II. xxiv. If his promise be so naked that there is no manner of consideration why it should be made, then I think him not bound to perform it.
1592. A. Day, Eng. Secretarie, I. (1625), 108. Extorted from him his bond … (upon some conclusion, though no good consideration at all) of the summe of an hundred pound.
1641. Termes de la Ley, 77. Consideration is the materiall cause of a contract, without the which no contract can binde the partie: this consideration is either expressed … or is implyed.
1677. Yarranton, Eng. Improv., I. 36. He comes and ejects him that bought for valuable Consideration.
1768. Blackstone, Comm., III. 162. When one has had and received money of another’s, without any valuable consideration given on the receiver’s part: the law construes this to be money had and received for the use of the owner only.
1849. Freese, Comm. Class-bk., 29. If the consideration given be money, it must be expressed thus: ‘Value received of the same.’… If the order or payee have not to pay for it, but only to pass its amount to the credit of the drawer in account, then the consideration must be expressed thus: ‘Value in account.’
1826. Kent’s Comm., II. xxxix. 465. A valuable consideration is one that is either a benefit to the party promising or some trouble or prejudice to the party to whom the promise is made.
7. Regard for the circumstances, feelings, comfort, etc., of another; thoughtfulness for another; thoughtful kindness.
1415. Earl Cambridge, in Ellis, Orig. Lett., II. 17. I. 48. My fulle trust is yat ȝee wylle have consyderacyoun … yat ȝow lyke to accept ȝys myn symple reqwest.
1491. Act 7 Hen. VII., c. 19. To have specyall tendirness and consideracion therunto.
1529. Wolsey, in Four C. Eng. Lett., 11. But his highnes wold have consyderacyon and compassyon.
1700. Dryden, Fables, Ded. (Globe), 492. One action, which preferred the relief of others to the consideration of your self.
1814. Jane Austen, Mansf. Park (1851), 61. Your attentiveness and consideration make me more sensible of my own neglect.
1815. Scribbleomania, 201. She has claims on the consideration of the country.
8. Estimation; regard among men, esteem; importance, consequence.
1598. Barret, Theor. Warres, II. i. 25. Men of bad consideration and worse conscience.
1614. Raleigh, Hist. World, III. 55. The Peloponnessians hearing thus much, began to enter into better consideration of the Athenians.
1709. Steele & Addison, Tatler, No. 136, ¶ 1. Mr. Ballance is a Merchant of good Consideration.
1710. Lond. Gaz., No. 4776/1. A Man of Consideration … with the Character of Nuncio.
1839. Keightley, Hist. Eng., I. 83. The clergy enjoyed a high degree of public consideration.
1852. Miss Yonge, Cameos (1877), I. viii. 50. Persons of consideration in their own neighbourhood.
a. 1859. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., xxiii. (1889), II. 670. A man of the first consideration.
b. Of things: Importance, consequence.
1634. W. Tirwhyt, trans. Balzac’s Lett., 381. I could spie nothing of slender consideration, either in his words, or aspect.
1680. H. More, Apocal. Apoc., 62. The artifice … is admirable, and of grand consideration.
1689–92. Locke, Toleration, i. Wks. 1727, II. 249. There is nothing in this world that is of any Consideration in comparison with Eternity.
1868. Freeman, Norm. Conq. (1876), II. vii. 49. A place even then of far less consideration than Coventry.
