Definition

1. Noun:

   • A spouse, especially of a reigning monarch: A "consort" refers to the husband or wife of a king, queen, emperor, or empress.
   • A group, company, or partnership: In a more general sense, it can mean a group of people or things associated together.
   • A group of musicians or musical instruments: In music, it can refer to a group of musicians performing together, especially in early music.

2. Verb:

   • To associate or keep company with: To spend time with or be in the company of a person or group.
   • To be in harmony or agreement; to accord: To be consistent or compatible with something.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:

  • Prince Philip was the consort of Queen Elizabeth II.
  • The ship sailed in consort with the rest of the fleet.
  • The performance featured a consort of viols.

• Verb:

  • He was warned not to consort with known criminals.
  • The new building's design does not consort with the historical character of the neighborhood.

Advanced Usage

• "In consort with": Together with, in association with.

  • The charity worked in consort with local businesses to fund the project.

• "Queen consort" / "King consort": Specific titles for the spouse of a reigning monarch who is not a monarch in their own right.

  • Camilla is the Queen Consort.

Variants and Related Words

• Consortium (noun): An association, typically of several companies or organizations.
  • A consortium of banks financed the deal.

Synonyms

• Noun (spouse): Spouse, partner, mate.
• Verb (associate): Associate, fraternize, mingle.
• Verb (harmonize): Harmonize, accord, agree, correspond.

Related Phrasal Verbs/Constructions

• Consort with: To associate or spend time with (often used with a negative connotation).
  • The politician was criticized for consorting with lobbyists.

Related Idioms

• To keep consort: (Archaic) To associate or keep company.
  • He was known to keep consort with artists and poets.

Noun

1. a family of similar musical instrument playing together
2. the husband or wife of a reigning monarch

Verb

1. keep company
   • the heifers run with the bulls to produce offspring
2. go together
   • The colors don't harmonize
   • Their ideas concorded
3. keep company with; hang out with
   • He associates with strange people
   • She affiliates with her colleagues