consist

consist
\ \ [16] Latin consistere meant originally ‘stand still, be firmly in place’. It was a compound verb formed from the intensive prefix com- and sistereplace’ (a relative of Latin stāre, which entered into a parallel compound to form constārestand firm’, source of English constant [14]). The concrete concept of ‘standing firm’ passed into the more abstract ‘exist’, and hence ‘have a particular kind of existence, have particular inherent qualities’. By the time English borrowed the verb it had come to mean ‘be composed of’.
\ \ Cf.CONSTANT, CONSTITUTE

Word origins - 2ed. . 2005.

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  • Consist — Con*sist (k[o^]n*s[i^]st ), 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… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • consist of — To be made up of • • • Main Entry: ↑consist * * * con ˈsist of [transitive] [present tense I/you/we/they consist of he/she/it consists of …   Useful english dictionary

  • consist in — 1. To inhere in (obsolete) 2. To have as essence 3. To be composed of • • • Main Entry: ↑consist * * * con ˈsist in [transitive] [present tense …   Useful english dictionary

  • consist — is followed by of or in. Consist of means ‘to have as its parts or elements’ (in physical and abstract contexts): • Testing consists of checking that the students can carry out the task by the criteria detailed in the objectives Teaching Clinical …   Modern English usage

  • consist — ► VERB 1) (consist of) be composed of. 2) (consist in) have as an essential feature. ORIGIN Latin consistere stand firm or still, exist …   English terms dictionary

  • consist — [kən sist′] vi. [L consistere, to stand together < com , together + sistere, to place, caus. of stare, to STAND] 1. to be formed or composed (of) [water consists of hydrogen and oxygen] 2. to be contained or inherent (in something) as a cause …   English World dictionary

  • consist — verb add up to, amount to, be composed of, be comprised of, be contained in, be formed of, be made of, be made up of, comprise, consistere, constitute, contain, cover, embody, encompass, enfold, entail, envelop, form, has as a component, have as… …   Law dictionary

  • consist of — index comprehend (include), comprise, constitute (compose), contain (comprise), encompass ( …   Law dictionary

  • consist — 1520s, from M.Fr. consister (14c.) or directly from L. consistere to stand firm, take a standing position, stop, halt, from com together (see COM (Cf. com )) + sistere to place, causative of stare to be standing (see ASSIST (Cf. assist)). Related …   Etymology dictionary

  • consist — [v] exist, reside abide, be, be contained in, be expressed by, be found in, dwell, inhere, lie, repose, rest, subsist; concept 539 …   New thesaurus

  • consist of — [v] made up of amount to, be composed of, comprise, contain, embody, include, incorporate, involve; concept 643 …   New thesaurus

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