consist
/kən'sist/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Verb (intransitive):
- To be composed or made up of: Used to indicate the parts or elements that form a whole.
- To have as an essential, fundamental, or central feature; to be contained in: Used to indicate the primary nature or essence of something.
- To be consistent or compatible; to be in agreement: Used to indicate harmony or lack of contradiction.
Usage and Examples
- Verb (intransitive):
- The committee consists of five members and a chairperson. (Indicates the parts forming the whole committee.)
- True strength consists in perseverance, not in physical power. (Indicates the essential nature or location of strength.)
- His actions do not consist with his stated principles. (Indicates a lack of compatibility or agreement.)
Advanced Usage
- "to consist of": This is the most common usage, followed by a noun or noun phrase listing the components.
- The recipe consists of flour, eggs, and sugar.
- "to consist in": This formal usage introduces the fundamental quality, essence, or main element of something, often followed by an abstract noun or a gerund.
- The beauty of the plan consists in its simplicity.
- "to consist with": This formal and less common usage indicates compatibility or accordance.
- Such harsh punishment does not consist with our values of rehabilitation.
Variants and Related Words
- Consistency (n): The state of being consistent; agreement or harmony.
- There is no consistency between his words and his deeds.
- Consistent (adj): Acting or done in the same way over time; compatible or in agreement.
- She is a consistent supporter of the arts.
- Inconsistent (adj): Not staying the same throughout; containing parts that do not agree.
- The witness gave an inconsistent account of events.
Synonyms
- Comprise: To be composed or made up of.
- Be composed of: To be formed from the specified parts.
- Reside in: To have its essential nature in (similar to "consist in").
- Conform with: To be in agreement or harmony with (similar to "consist with").
Phrasal Verbs / Constructions
- Consist of: To be made from or formed of particular parts or things.
- The exhibition consists of paintings from the 19th century.
- Consist in: To have something as the main or only part or feature.
- The difference consists in the method of application.
- Consist with: To be in agreement or compatible with something.
- His calm demeanor did not consist with the urgency of the situation.
Verb
- be composed of
- The land he conquered comprised several provinces
- What does this dish consist of?
- be consistent in form, tenor, or character; be congruous
- Desires are to be satisfied only so far as consists with an approved end
- have its essential character; be comprised or contained in; be embodied in
- The payment consists in food
- What does love consist in?
- originate (in)
- The problems dwell in the social injustices in this country