consistence

From Middle French. Compare French consistance.

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /kənˈsɪst(ə)ns/

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• (General American) IPA^(key): /kənˈsɪstəns/

consistence (countable and uncountable, plural consistences)

1. Logical consistency; lack of self-contradiction.
2. The staying together, or remaining in close relation, of non-physical things.

   Her performance has lacked consistence over the last year.

   This composer’s musical work is of extraordinary consistence.

3. (archaic) The physical quality which is given by the degree of density, firmness, solidity, and viscosity; consistency.
   • 1731, John Arbuthnot, An Essay Concerning the Nature of Aliments, and the Choice of Them, According to the Different Constitutions of Human Bodies. […], 1st Irish edition, Dublin: […] S. Powell, for George Risk, […], George Ewing, […], and William Smith, […], →OCLC:

     If they [expressed juices] be boiled into the Consistence of a Syrup.

   • 1953, Samuel Beckett, Watt, 1st American edition, New York, N.Y.: Grove Press, published 1959, →OCLC:

     All these things, and many others too numerous to mention, were well mixed together in the famous pot and boiled for four hours, until the consistence of a mess, or poss, was obtained, […]

4. (obsolete) The condition of adhering or standing together, or being fixed in union, as the parts of a body; coherence, existence, firmness, solidity.
   • 1631, Francis [Bacon], “(please specify |century=I to X)”, in Sylua Syluarum: Or A Naturall Historie. In Ten Centuries. […], 3rd edition, London: […] William Rawley; [p]rinted by J[ohn] H[aviland] for William Lee […], →OCLC:

     Water, being divided, maketh many circles, till it restore itself to the natural consistence.

   • 1650 October (published 1651), Jer[emy] Taylor, “[XXVIII Sermons Preached at Golden Grove; Being for the Summer Half-year, […].] Sermon XXVIII. A Funeral Sermon, Preached at the Obsequies of the Right Honorable and Most Vertuous Lady, the Lady Frances Countesse of Carbery: Who Deceased October the 9th 1650. at Her House Golden-grove in Carmarthen-shire.”, in ΕΝΙΑΥΤΟΣ [Eniautos]. A Course of Sermons for All the Sundays of the Year. […], 2nd edition, London: […] Richard Royston […], published 1654, →OCLC, page 358:

     VVe are as vvater, vveak, and of no conſiſtence, alvvayes deſcending, abiding in no certain place, unleſeſ vvhere vvee are detained vvith violence: […]

   • 1830, The Veterinarian:

     When it was brought to the school it discharged from its right nostril, a whitish, viscid, clotty matter, which, although of little consistence, strongly adhered to the sides of the nostril.

5. (obsolete) That which stands together as a united whole; a combination.
   • 1641 May, John Milton, Of Reformation Touching Church-Discipline in England: And the Cavvses that hitherto have Hindred it; republished as Will Taliaferro Hale, editor, Of Reformation Touching Church-Discipline in England (Yale Studies in English; LIV), New Haven, Conn.: Yale University Press, 1916, →OCLC:

     The church of God, as meaning whole consistence of orders and members.

6. (obsolete) Standing still; quiescence, state of rest.
7. (obsolete except poetic) A substance which adheres together.
   • 1658, Thomas Browne, “Hydriotaphia, Urne-buriall. […]. Chapter V.”, in Hydriotaphia, Urne-buriall, […] Together with The Garden of Cyrus, […], London: […] Hen[ry] Brome […], →OCLC, page 78:

     Ægyptian ingenuity vvas more unſatisfied, contriving their bodies in ſvveet conſiſtences, to attend the return of their ſouls. But all vvas vanity, feeding the vvinde, and folly.

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