Etymology

From Middle EnglishCategory:English terms inherited from Middle English#CONSEQUENCECategory:English terms derived from Middle English#CONSEQUENCE consequence, from Old FrenchCategory:English terms derived from Old French#CONSEQUENCE consequence,^[1] from LatinCategory:English terms derived from Latin#CONSEQUENCE consequentia. While analysable as con- +‎ sequenceCategory:English terms prefixed with con-#SEQUENCE, its adjective form has a different origin.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈkɒn.sɪ.kwɛns/Category:English 3-syllable words#CONSEQUENCECategory:English terms with IPA pronunciation#CONSEQUENCE
• (General American, dialects of Canada) IPA^(key): /ˈkɑn.sɪ.kwɛns/, /ˈkɑn.sɪ.kwəns/Category:English 3-syllable words#CONSEQUENCECategory:English 3-syllable words#CONSEQUENCECategory:English terms with IPA pronunciation#CONSEQUENCE

• Audio (US):

  (file)

  Category:English terms with audio pronunciation#CONSEQUENCE
• (Canada, dialects of the US) IPA^(key): /ˈkɒn.sɪ.kwɛns/Category:English 3-syllable words#CONSEQUENCECategory:English terms with IPA pronunciation#CONSEQUENCE
• (General Australian) IPA^(key): /ˈkɔn.sɪ.kwens/Category:English 3-syllable words#CONSEQUENCECategory:English terms with IPA pronunciation#CONSEQUENCE
• (New Zealand) IPA^(key): /ˈkɒn.sə.kwens/, [ˈkɔ̟n.sə.kwens]Category:English 3-syllable words#CONSEQUENCECategory:English terms with IPA pronunciation#CONSEQUENCE

Noun

consequence (countable and uncountable, plural consequences)Category:English lemmas#CONSEQUENCECategory:English nouns#CONSEQUENCECategory:English uncountable nouns#CONSEQUENCECategory:English countable nouns#CONSEQUENCECategory:English countable nouns#CONSEQUENCECategory:English entries with incorrect language header#CONSEQUENCECategory:Pages with entries#CONSEQUENCECategory:Pages with 1 entry#CONSEQUENCE

1. An effect; something that follows a cause as a result.
   • 1992, Rudolf M[athias] Schuster, The Hepaticae and Anthocerotae of North America: East of the Hundredth Meridian, volume V, Chicago, Ill.: Field Museum of Natural History, →ISBN, page 7:

     The lobule margins, furthermore, are arched away from the lobe, with the consequence that (when fully inflated) the abaxial leaf surface forms the interior lining of the lobule.

     Category:English terms with quotations#CONSEQUENCE

   1. An unwanted or unpleasant effect.

      I'm warning you. If you don't get me the report on time, there will be consequences.Category:English terms with usage examples#CONSEQUENCE

      • 2013 September-October, Michael Sivak, “Will AC Put a Chill on the Global Energy Supply?”, in American Scientist:

        Nevertheless, it is clear that the global energy demand for air-conditioning will grow substantially as nations become more affluent, with the consequences of climate change potentially accelerating the demand.

        Category:English terms with quotations#CONSEQUENCE

2. consecution; chain of causes and effects.
3. conclusion, deduction or inference; the thing concluded.
4. (especially when preceded by "of") Importance, influence, or significance.

   My opinions are of no consequence whatsoever to my parents.Category:English terms with usage examples#CONSEQUENCE

   • 1848 November – 1850 December, William Makepeace Thackeray, chapter 19, in The History of Pendennis. […], volume (please specify |volume=I or II), London: Bradbury and Evans, […], published 1849–1850, →OCLC:

     Thus young Pen, the only son of an estated country gentleman, with a good allowance, and a gentlemanlike bearing and person, looked to be a lad of much more consequence than he was really; and was held by the Oxbridge authorities, tradesmen, and undergraduates, as quite a young buck and member of the aristocracy.

     Category:English terms with quotations#CONSEQUENCE

   • 2011 September 2, Phil McNulty, “Bulgaria 0-3 England”, in BBC:

     Rooney's United team-mate Chris Smalling was given his debut at right-back and was able to adjust to the international stage in relatively relaxed fashion as Bulgaria barely posed a threat of any consequence.

     Category:English terms with quotations#CONSEQUENCE

Verb

consequence (third-person singular simple present consequences, present participle consequencing, simple past and past participle consequenced)Category:English lemmas#CONSEQUENCECategory:English verbs#CONSEQUENCECategory:English entries with incorrect language header#CONSEQUENCECategory:Pages with entries#CONSEQUENCECategory:Pages with 1 entry#CONSEQUENCE

1. (transitiveCategory:English transitive verbs#CONSEQUENCE) To threaten or punish (a child, etc.) with specific consequences for misbehaviour.
   • 1998, Terry M. Levy, Michael Orlans, Attachment, trauma, and healing:

     The goal of consequencing is to teach the child a lesson that leads to positive choices and behaviors. The goal of punishment is to inflict pain and seek revenge. Angry parenting is punitive and ineffectual.

     Category:English terms with quotations#CONSEQUENCE

     Category:Quotation templates to be cleaned
   • 2001, Betty Bedard-Bidwell, Hand in Hand, page 117:

     These behaviours are not acceptable within a classroom setting and often result in the child being consequenced or removed from class.

     Category:English terms with quotations#CONSEQUENCE

     Category:Quotation templates to be cleaned

References

Further reading

• “consequence”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.
• William Dwight Whitney, Benjamin E[li] Smith, editors (1911), “consequence”, in The Century Dictionary […], New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., →OCLC.
• “consequence”, in OneLook Dictionary Search.