[a. F. consolation (12th c. in Littré), ad. L. consōlātiōn-em consoling, comfort, n. of action from consōlārī to CONSOLE.]
1. The action of consoling, cheering, or comforting; the state of being consoled; alleviation of sorrow or mental distress.
c. 1374. Chaucer, Troylus, I. 708. Men seyn, to wrecche is consolacion To haue another felaw in his peyne.
1485. Caxton, Paris & V. (1868), 23. I had hoped to haue had in the grete consolacyon.
1535. Coverdale, Philem. 7. Greate ioye and consolacion haue I in thy loue.
1606. Shaks., Ant. & Cl., I. ii. 174. This greefe is crown’d with Consolation.
1671. Milton, Samson, 664. Unless he feel within Some source of consolation from above.
1726. W. R. Chetwood, Adv. Capt. R. Boyle, 210. All the Advice we gave him brought him no Consolation.
1845. M. Pattison, Ess. (1889), I. 10. The earliest Christian pilgrims, for whose guidance and consolation in their journey a new star was created.
2. (with pl.) An act or instance of consolation; a person or thing that affords consolation; a consoling fact or circumstance.
c. 1400. Beryn, 1102. The wich seyd shortly, for a molestacioune Ther was noon othir remedy, but a consolacioune.
1526. Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 13 b. Innumerable moo benefytes and consolacyons he hathe gyuen vs.
1667. Milton, P. L., XII. 495. Against such cruelties With inward consolations recompenc’t.
1793. Smeaton, Edystone L., § 266. One misfortune frequently becomes a consolation for another.
1875. Jowett, Plato (ed. 2), I. 418. Pericles in the funeral oration is silent on the consolations of immortality.
3. In some card games, as ombre, quadrille, etc.: see quots.
The word occurs in Le Jeu de l’Hombre, Paris, 1709, p. 126.
1768. Acad. of Play, 46. The Consolation is two Counters, which are paid to him or them that stand the Game if they win, or is paid by them if they lose, whether it be by Remise or Codill.
1779. Hoyle’s Games Impr., 114 (Quadrille), Consolation, is a Claim, which is always paid by those who lose to those who win; whether by Codill or Remise.
1878. H. H. Gibbs, Ombre, 49. Consolation, the payment for the game, made by the Ombre when he lost, to the other players.
b. Consolation race, match, etc.: one open only to those competitors who have been unsuccessful in the preceding ‘events.’ So consolation stakes.
1866. ‘Ouida,’ Chandos, I. 70. He is the most wretched animal … he could not win in a consolation scramble.
