consist

Definitions

1. 1.2. To be composed or made up; -- followed by of. The land would consist of plains and valleys. T. Burnet.
2. 2.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.
3. 3.4. To be cosistent 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.
4. 4.To insist; -- followed by on. [Obs.] Shak. 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."

Source: Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913 edition (public domain, via GCIDE / Project Gutenberg).

Synonyms

Related questions

• What does "consist" mean?
• What is another word for "consist"?

Reverse-dictionary questions

Definition-first questions whose answer is consist.

• What is 2. To be composed or made up; -- followed by of. The land would consist of plains and valleys. T. Burnet called?