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. [ 1913 Webster ]

He is before all things, and by him all things consist. Col. i. 17. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To be composed or made up; -- followed by of. [ 1913 Webster ]

The land would consist of plains and valleys. T. Burnet. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To have as its substance or character, or as its foundation; to be; -- followed by in. [ 1913 Webster ]

If their purgation did consist in words. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

A man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth. Luke xii. 15. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. To be consistent or harmonious; to be in accordance; -- formerly used absolutely, now followed by with. [ 1913 Webster ]

This was a consisting story. Bp. Burnet. [ 1913 Webster ]

Health consists with temperance alone. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

For orders and degrees
Jar not with liberty, but well consist. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. To insist; -- followed by on. [ Obs. ] Shak.

Syn. -- To Consist, Consist of, Consist in. 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.” [ 1913 Webster ]

{ , n. [ Cf. F. consistance. ] 1. The condition of standing or adhering together, or being fixed in union, as the parts of a body; existence; firmness; coherence; solidity. [ 1913 Webster ]

Water, being divided, maketh many circles, till it restore itself to the natural consistence. Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

We are as water, weak, and of no consistence. Jer. Taylor. [ 1913 Webster ]

The same form, substance, and consistency. T. Burnet. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A degree of firmness, density, viscosity, or spissitude; a measure of the ability to hold together when manipulated.
Syn. -- body. [ 1913 Webster ]

Let the expressed juices be boiled into the consistence of a sirup. Arbuthnot. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. That which stands together as a united whole; a combination. [ 1913 Webster ]

The church of God, as meaning the whole consistence of orders and members. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Firmness of constitution or character; substantiality; durability; persistency. [ 1913 Webster ]

His friendship is of a noble make and a lasting consistency. South. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. Agreement or harmony of all parts of a complex thing among themselves, or of the same thing with itself at different times; the harmony of conduct with profession; congruity; correspondence; as, the consistency of laws, regulations, or judicial decisions; consistency of opinions; consistency of conduct or of character. [ 1913 Webster ]

That consistency of behavior whereby he inflexibly pursues those measures which appear the most just. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

Consistency, thou art a jewel. Popular Saying. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. consistens, p. pr.: cf. F. consistant. ] 1. Possessing firmness or fixedness; firm; hard; solid. [ 1913 Webster ]

The humoral and consistent parts of the body. Harvey. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Having agreement with itself or with something else; having harmony among its parts; possesing unity; accordant; harmonious; congruous; compatible; uniform; not contradictory. [ 1913 Webster ]

Show me one that has it in his power
To act consistent with himself an hour. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

With reference to such a lord, to serve and to be free are terms not consistent only, but equivalent. South. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Living or acting in conformity with one's belief or professions. [ 1913 Webster ]

It was utterly to be at once a consistent Quaker and a conspirator. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a consistent manner. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Cf. F. consistorial. ] Of or pertaining to a consistory. “Consistorial laws.” Hooker. “Consistorial courts.” Bp. Hoadley. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Pertaining to a Presbyterian consistory; -- a contemptuous term of 17th century controversy. [ 1913 Webster ]

You fall next on the consistorian schismatics; for so you call Presbyterians. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

pos>n.; pl. Consistories [ L. consistorium a place of assembly, the place where the emperor's council met, fr. consistere: cf. F. consistoire, It. consistorio. See Consist. ] 1. Primarily, a place of standing or staying together; hence, any solemn assembly or council. [ 1913 Webster ]

To council summons all his mighty peers,
Within thick clouds and dark tenfold involved,
A gloomy consistory. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Eng. Ch.) The spiritual court of a diocesan bishop held before his chancellor or commissioner in his cathedral church or elsewhere. Hook. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (R. C. Ch.) An assembly of prelates; a session of the college of cardinals at Rome. [ 1913 Webster ]

Pius was then hearing of causes in consistory. Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. A church tribunal or governing body. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ In some churches, as the Dutch Reformed in America, a consistory is composed of the minister and elders of an individual church, corresponding to a Presbyterian church session, and in others, as the Reformed church in France, it is composed of ministers and elders, corresponding to a presbytery. In some Lutheran countries it is a body of clerical and lay officers appointed by the sovereign to superintend ecclesiastical affairs. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. A civil court of justice. [ Obs. ] Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Of the nature of, or pertaining to, a consistory. “To hold consistory session.” Strype. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Inconsistency. [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. Inconsistencies [ Cf. F. inconsistance. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. The quality or state of being inconsistent; discordance in respect to sentiment or action; such contrariety between two things that both can not exist or be true together; disagreement; incompatibility. [ 1913 Webster ]

There is a perfect inconsistency between that which is of debt and that which is of free gift. South. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Absurdity in argument ore narration; incoherence or irreconcilability in the parts of a statement, argument, or narration; that which is inconsistent. [ 1913 Webster ]

If a man would register all his opinions upon love, politics, religion, and learning, what a bundle of inconsistencies and contradictions would appear at last! Swift. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Lack of stability or uniformity; unsteadiness; changeableness; variableness. [ 1913 Webster ]

Mutability of temper, and inconsistency with ourselves, is the greatest weakness of human nature. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Pref. in- not + consistent: cf. F. inconsistant. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. Not consistent; showing inconsistency; irreconcilable; contradictory, or having contradictory implications; discordant; at variance, esp. as regards character, sentiment, or action; incompatible; incongruous. [ 1913 Webster ]

Compositions of this nature . . . show that wisdom and virtue are far from being inconsistent with politeness and good humor. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Not exhibiting uniformity of sentiment, steadiness to principle, etc.; unequal; fickle; changeable. [ 1913 Webster ]

Ah, how unjust to nature, and himself,
Is thoughtless, thankless, inconsistent man. Young.

Syn. -- Incompatible; incongruous; irreconcilable; discordant; repugnant; contradictory. -- Inconsistent, Incongruous, Incompatible. Things are incongruous when they are not suited to each other, so that their union is unbecoming; inconsistent when they are opposed to each other, so as render it improper or wrong; incompatible when they can not coexist, and it is therefore impossible to unite them. Habitual levity of mind is incongruous with the profession of a clergyman; it is inconsistent with his ordination vows; it is incompatible with his permanent usefulness. Incongruity attaches to the modes and qualities of things; incompatibility attaches to their essential attributes; inconsistency attaches to the actions, sentiments, etc., of men. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In an inconsistent manner. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Inconsistency. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Inconsistent. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The quality or state of being self-consistent. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Consistent with one's self or with itself; not deviation from the ordinary standard by which the conduct is guided; logically consistent throughout; having each part consistent with the rest. [ 1913 Webster ]