3 definitions found
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Consist \Con*sist"\, 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.
He is before all things, and by him all things
consist. --Col. i. 17.
2. To be composed or made up; -- followed by of.
The land would consist of plains and valleys. --T.
Burnet.
3. To have as its substance or character, or as its
foundation; to be; -- followed by in.
If their purgation did consist in words. --Shak.
A man's life consisteth not in the abudance of the
things which he possesseth. --Luke xii.
15.
4. To be consistent or harmonious; to be in accordance; --
formerly used absolutely, now followed by with.
This was a consisting story. --Bp. Burnet.
Health consists with temperance alone. --Pope.
For orders and degrees Jar not with liberty, but
well consist. --Milton.
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.''
From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:
consist
v 1: originate (in); "The problems dwell in the social injustices
in this country" [syn: {dwell}, {lie}, {belong}, {lie in}]
2: have its essential character; be comprised or contained in;
be embodied in; "The payment consists in food"; "What does
love consist in?"
3: be consistent in form, tenor, or character; be congruous;
"Desires are to be satisfied only so far as consists with
an approved end"
4: be composed of; "The land he conquered comprised several
provinces"; "What does this dish consist of?" [syn: {comprise}]
From eng-fra [engfra]:
consist
[kənsist]
consister