consequence

The English word "consequence" traces its origins to the Latin term "consequentia," which denotes "a‌​‌​‍​‍​‍​‌​‌​‍​‌​‍​‍​‍​‌​‌​‌​‍​‍​‌​‍​‍​‌​‌​‍​‌​‌​‍​‌​‍​‌​‌​‍​‍ following after," "a sequence," or "a logical inference." This Latin noun is derived from the present participle "consequēns," itself formed from the verb "consequī," meaning "to follow together," "to follow closely," or "to result from." The verb "consequī" is a deponent verb, a class of Latin verbs that are passive in form but active in meaning, and it is composed of the prefix "con-" meaning "together" or "with," combined with the verb "sequī," meaning "to follow."

The root "sequī" belongs to the Proto-Indo-European (PIE) root *sekw-, which carries the fundamental meaning "to follow" or "to accompany." This root is well-attested across various Indo-European languages and has given rise to numerous cognates and derivatives. In Latin, aside from "sequī," it underlies words such as "sequence," "sequel," and "second," all of which share the core notion of something that follows or comes after. The root also appears in "sect," originally referring to a group of followers, and "suit," which in legal contexts relates to following a course of action. Beyond Latin, the Greek verb "ἕπεσθαι" (hepesthai), meaning "to follow," is a cognate derived from the same PIE root.

The semantic development of "consequentia" in Latin encompasses both the literal sense of something that follows in time or order and the more abstract sense of a logical inference or conclusion that follows from premises. This latter sense became particularly prominent in scholastic Latin philosophy during the medieval period, where "consequentia" was used to denote the necessary result or conclusion derived from a set of premises. The moral or ethical sense of "consequence," referring to the outcomes or repercussions one must face as a result of one's actions, naturally extends from this foundational idea of something that follows inevitably.

The prefix "con-" in Latin, meaning "together" or "with," combines with "sequī" to reinforce the idea of following closely or accompanying. Thus, "consequī" literally conveys the notion of "following together with" or "coming after in close succession." This composite meaning underpins the various senses of "consequence" as both a temporal or causal result and a logical derivation.

The PIE root *sekw- also underlies other Latin words related to following or companionship, such as "socius," meaning "companion" or "ally," and "exsequi," meaning "to carry out" or "to follow through," from which the English "execute" is derived. These cognates illustrate the broad semantic field of the root, encompassing notions of following, accompanying, and carrying out.

The word "consequence" entered the English language in the 14th century, borrowed from Old French "consequence," which itself was directly taken from Latin "consequentia." The Old French form preserved much of the original Latin meaning, and the term was adopted into Middle English with its dual senses intact: both as a result or effect of an action or condition and as importance or relevance.

It is important to distinguish "consequence" as an inherited Latin-derived term in English from other words that may share similar roots but entered English through different routes or at different times. For example, "sequence" and "sequel" also derive from Latin "sequor" (to follow) but have their own distinct histories and nuances. The adoption of "consequence" via Old French reflects the typical pattern of many Latinate abstract nouns entering English during the Middle Ages, often in contexts related to law, philosophy, and theology.

"consequence" is a Latinate English word with a well-documented etymology rooted in the Latin "consequentia," formed from "consequēns," the present participle of "consequī," itself derived from the PIE root *sekw-. Its meanings have evolved from the literal sense of something that follows closely after another to encompass logical inference and moral or causal outcomes. The word's journey into English via Old French in the 14th century situates it firmly within the tradition of scholarly and legal vocabulary that shaped Middle English and continues to influence modern English usage.