Consist

Consist
Consist Con*sist" (k[o^]n*s[i^]st"), v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Consisted}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Consisting}.] [L. consistere to stand still or firm; con- + sistere to stand, cause to stand, stare to stand: cf. F. consister. See {Stand}.] 1. To stand firm; to be in a fixed or permanent state, as a body composed of parts in union or connection; to hold together; to be; to exist; to subsist; to be supported and maintained. [1913 Webster]

He is before all things, and by him all things consist. --Col. i. 17. [1913 Webster]

2. To be composed or made up; -- followed by of. [1913 Webster]

The land would consist of plains and valleys. --T. Burnet. [1913 Webster]

3. To have as its substance or character, or as its foundation; to be; -- followed by in. [1913 Webster]

If their purgation did consist in words. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

A man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth. --Luke xii. 15. [1913 Webster]

4. To be consistent or harmonious; to be in accordance; -- formerly used absolutely, now followed by with. [1913 Webster]

This was a consisting story. --Bp. Burnet. [1913 Webster]

Health consists with temperance alone. --Pope. [1913 Webster]

For orders and degrees Jar not with liberty, but well consist. --Milton. [1913 Webster]

5. To insist; -- followed by on. [Obs.] --Shak.

Syn: {To Consist}, {Consist of}, {Consist in}.

Usage: The verb consist is employed chiefly for two purposes, which are marked and distinguished by the prepositions used. When we wish to indicate the parts which unite to compose a thing, we use of; as when we say, ``Macaulay's Miscellanies consist chiefly of articles which were first published in the Edinburgh Review.'' When we wish to indicate the true nature of a thing, or that on which it depends, we use in; as, ``There are some artists whose skill consists in a certain manner which they have affected.'' ``Our safety consists in a strict adherence to duty.'' [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • consist of — To be made up of • • • Main Entry: ↑consist * * * con ˈsist of [transitive] [present tense I/you/we/they consist of he/she/it consists of …   Useful english dictionary

  • consist in — 1. To inhere in (obsolete) 2. To have as essence 3. To be composed of • • • Main Entry: ↑consist * * * con ˈsist in [transitive] [present tense …   Useful english dictionary

  • consist — is followed by of or in. Consist of means ‘to have as its parts or elements’ (in physical and abstract contexts): • Testing consists of checking that the students can carry out the task by the criteria detailed in the objectives Teaching Clinical …   Modern English usage

  • consist — ► VERB 1) (consist of) be composed of. 2) (consist in) have as an essential feature. ORIGIN Latin consistere stand firm or still, exist …   English terms dictionary

  • consist — [kən sist′] vi. [L consistere, to stand together < com , together + sistere, to place, caus. of stare, to STAND] 1. to be formed or composed (of) [water consists of hydrogen and oxygen] 2. to be contained or inherent (in something) as a cause …   English World dictionary

  • consist — verb add up to, amount to, be composed of, be comprised of, be contained in, be formed of, be made of, be made up of, comprise, consistere, constitute, contain, cover, embody, encompass, enfold, entail, envelop, form, has as a component, have as… …   Law dictionary

  • consist of — index comprehend (include), comprise, constitute (compose), contain (comprise), encompass ( …   Law dictionary

  • consist — 1520s, from M.Fr. consister (14c.) or directly from L. consistere to stand firm, take a standing position, stop, halt, from com together (see COM (Cf. com )) + sistere to place, causative of stare to be standing (see ASSIST (Cf. assist)). Related …   Etymology dictionary

  • consist — [v] exist, reside abide, be, be contained in, be expressed by, be found in, dwell, inhere, lie, repose, rest, subsist; concept 539 …   New thesaurus

  • consist of — [v] made up of amount to, be composed of, comprise, contain, embody, include, incorporate, involve; concept 643 …   New thesaurus

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