Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Consist
Con-sist′
(kŏn-sĭst′)
, Verb.
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. Shakespeare
A man’s life
consisteth not in the abundance 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
Jar not with liberty, but well
consist
. Milton.
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.”
Webster 1828 Edition
Consist
CONSIST
,Verb.
I.
1.
To stand together; to be in a fixed or permanent state, as a body composed of parts in union or connection. Hence, to be; to exist; to subsist; to be supported and maintained.He was before all things, and by him all things consist. Colossians 1.
2.
To stand or be; to lie; to be contained; followed by in.The beauty of epistolary writing consists in case and freedom.
3.
To be composed; followed by of.A landscape should consist of a variety of scenery.
To consist together, to coexist; to have being concurrently.
Necessity and election cannot consist together in the same act.
To consist with, to agree; to be in accordance with; to be compatible.
Health consists with temperance alone.