consistent — English Dictionary

Adjective

1. Of a regularly occurring, dependable nature.

   Examples

   The consistent use of Chinglish in China can be very annoying, apart from some initial amusement.

   He is very consistent in his political choices: economy good or bad, he always votes Labour!

   More examples (2)

   That author [Mr. Boyle] has a particular Eſſay of the Atmoſphere of Conſiſtent Bodies; wherein he ſhews, that all, even ſolid, hard, ponderous, and fix'd Bodies, do exhale or emit Effluvia to a certain space all around 'em.

   When a philosopher adopted fully the Nominalist view of the signification of general language, retaining along with it the dictum de omni as the foundation of all reasoning, two such premisses fairly put together were likely, if he was a consistent thinker, to land him in rather startling conclusions.

2. Compatible, accordant.

   Synonyms

   conformablecompliantcongruent

   Examples

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   As I had once done thus in my breaking away from my Parents, ſo I could not be content now, but I muſt go and leave the happy View I had of being a rich and thriving Man in my new Plantation, only to purſue a raſh and immoderate Deſire of riſing faſter than the Nature of the Thing admitted; and thus I caſt my ſelf down again into the deepeſt Gulph of human Miſery that ever Man fell into, or perhaps could be conſiſtent with Life and a State Health of in the World.

   When I do myself the honour of speaking to you next on the subject, I shall hope to receive a more favourable answer than you have now given me; though I am far from accusing you of cruelty at present, because I know it to be the established custom of your sex to reject a man on the first application, and perhaps you have even now said as much to encourage my suit as would be consistent with the true delicacy of the female character.

   Libertarian paternalism is the view that, because the way options are presented to citizens affects what they choose, society should present options in a way that "nudges" our intuitive selves to make choices that are more consistent with what our more deliberative selves would have chosen if they were in control.

   Rail Minister Lord Hendy was quizzed by the same MPs at an earlier hearing. He maintained that the Bill gave Mayors "much enhanced power" and preserved the existing processes by which rail services can be devolved. "The intention, more widely, is to work collaboratively with all devolved leaders to meet local needs," he said. "It has to be tempered by the reality, which is that the railway network is not generally consistent with mayoral boundaries. […]".

3. Of a set of statements: such that no contradiction logically follows from them.

   Examples

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   When we ask whether ideas or terms are consistent or inconsistent with each other, the question really is, in what manner the relation presupposed between the ideas qualifies them for being combined as terms of a judgment.

   Part of establishing a foundation for geometry was demonstrating that the axioms were consistent – that they could never lead to contradictions.

Noun

1. Objects or facts that are coexistent, or in agreement with one another.

   Usage

   • in-plural
   • Rare

   Examples

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   The Diurnal motion of the primum mobile, is it not from Eaſt to Weſt? And the annual motion of the Sun through the Ecliptick, is it not on the contrary from Weſt to Eaſt? How then can you make theſe motions being conferred on the Earth, of contraries to become conſiſtents?

2. A kind of penitent who was allowed to assist at prayers, but was not permitted to receive the holy sacraments.

   Usage

   • Historical

   Examples

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   [F]rom the fourth century onwards, the Eastern Church divided penitents into four classes. […] The consistentes (the last class—συστάντες, consistentes) "stand together with the faithful, and do not go out with the catechumens. Last comes participation in the sacraments (ἁγιασμάτων)."

Adjective

1. (sometimes followed by ‘with’) in agreement or consistent or reliable

   Antonyms

   inconsistent

   Examples

   testimony consistent with the known facts

2. capable of being reproduced

   Synonyms

   reproducible

   Examples

   astonishingly reproducible results can be obtained

3. marked by an orderly, logical, and aesthetically consistent relation of parts

   Synonyms

   coherentlogicalordered

   Examples

   a coherent argument

4. the same throughout in structure or composition

   Synonyms

   uniform

   Examples

   bituminous coal is often treated as a consistent and homogeneous product