consequence

From Middle English consequence, from Old French consequence,^[1] from Latin consequentia. While analysable as con- +‎ sequence, its adjective form has a different origin.

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈkɒnsɪkwɛns/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈkɑnsɪkwɛns/, /ˈkɑnsɪkwəns/

• Audio (US):

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consequence (countable and uncountable, plural consequences)

1. An effect; something that follows a cause as a result.
   • 1992, Rudolf M 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.

   1. An unwanted or unpleasant effect.

      I'm warning you. If you don't get me the report on time, there will be consequences.

      • 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.

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.

   • 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.

   • 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.

• (effect): aftercome
• (unwanted or unpleasant effect): repercussion
• (importance, influence, significance): moment, (hyponyms) distinction, rank, value
• (conclusion): implication

• causality
• effect
• impact

consequence (third-person singular simple present consequences, present participle consequencing, simple past and past participle consequenced)

1. (transitive) 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.

   • 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.

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