Consequence
/ˈkɒn.sɪ.kwəns/noun
A result or effect of an action, event, or condition.
Did you know?Consequence comes from Latin *consequentia*, and its deeper root *sequi* means “to follow,” the same ancient source behind words like *sequence* and *sue*—so this word literally carries the energy of what comes after.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*sekw-
“to follow”
Latin
Latin
consequi
“to follow closely, accompany, attain”
Latin
Latin
consequentia
“a following after, logical outcome”
Old French
Old French
consequence
“consequence, result, importance”
Middle English
English
consequence
“result, effect; importance”
Modern English
English
consequence
“a result or effect of an action, event, or condition”