consider

consider, v.
  (kənˈsɪdə(r))
  Also 4 -sidere, 4–6 -syder, -sydre, 5 -sydyr, -sydure, -ceder, -cidre, 5–6 -seder, -sidre, 6 (Sc.) -sydder.
  [a. F. considérer (14th c. in Littré), ad. L. consīderāre to look at closely, examine, contemplate, f. con- + a radical (found also in de-sīderāre to miss, desire), according to Festus, derived from sīdus, sīder- star, constellation. The vb. might thus be originally a term of astrology or augury, but such a use is not known in the Lat. writers.]
  1. To view or contemplate attentively, to survey, examine, inspect, scrutinize. arch.

c 1425 Wyntoun Cron. viii. xxvii. 121 Thai consydryd noucht the Plas. 1535 Coverdale Nehem. ii. 15 Then wente I on in the nighte..& considered [1611 viewed] y⊇ wall. ― Prov. xxxi. 16 She considreth londe [1611 a field] and byeth it. 1667 Milton P.L. ix. 84 And with inspection deep Consider'd every Creature. 1717 Lady M. W. Montague in Four C. Eng. Lett. 204, I was sorry that decency did not permit me to consider them nearer. 1802 M. Edgeworth Moral T. (1816) I. xvi, 139 The girl..considered Forester with anxious attention. 1842 Tennyson Two Voices 241 Consider well..His face, that two hours since hath died.

  2. intr. To look attentively.

c 1400 Lanfranc's Cirurg. 131, I considere if þat þe pacient be ful of blood..& if he be ȝong & litil blood bled at his wounde. Ibid. 133 Þanne I considere if þat ilke slendynge perce al þe brayn panne. 1611 Bible Lev. xiii. 13 Then the Priest shall consider: and behold, if the leprosie haue couered al his flesh, he shal pronounce him cleane.

  3. trans. To contemplate mentally, fix the mind upon; to think over, meditate or reflect on, bestow attentive thought upon, give heed to, take note of.

1375 Barbour Bruce i. 114 Had ȝe..consideryt his vsage, That gryppyt ay, but gayne-gevyng. c 1460 Towneley Myst. 93 This is a good lesson Us to consydure. 1533 More Debell. Salem iii. Wks. 936/1 Rede and consyder it who so list, for I can see nothynge in it to be considered by mee. 1605 Shakes. Lear iii. iv. 107 Is man no more then this? Consider him well. 1711 Hearne Collect. III. 103, I doubt it, and must consider it at leisure. 1808 J. Webster Nat. Phil. 13 Natural Philosophy is that science which considers the powers of nature. 1875 Jowett Plato (ed. 2) IV. 129 This was a problem which the Eleatic philosophers had never considered.

  b. to consider away: to drive away by consideration or reflection. rare.

a 1677 Barrow Serm. in Beauties of B. (1846) 177 Who from vain opinions is proud, cannot, without considering away those opinions, prove humble.

  4. with obj. clause: To think, reflect, take note.

c 1391 Chaucer Astrol. Prol., Considere wel that I ne vsurpe nat to haue fownde this werk of..myn engin. 1483 Caxton Cato G iv, Thou must consyder thy seruantes be men as thou arte. c 1575 Fulke Confut. Doctr. Purgatory 370 He did not consider, that [it]..was a sacrifice of thankes giuing and not of prayers for them. 1590 Shakes. Com. Err. iv. i. 68. 1634 Ford P. Warbeck i. ii, Consider whose thou art, and who. 1726 Chetwood Adven. Capt. R. Boyle 54 Only consider my time is very short. 1771 Junius Lett. xlix. 254 Consider how much of it would have been lost to the world. 1875 Jowett Plato (ed. 2) I. 437 Consider, further, my friend, whether you and I are agreed.

  5. intr. To think deliberately, bethink oneself, reflect.

c 1460 Fortescue Abs. & Lim. Mon. vi, Hereinne it nedith not to considre or to purvey, but only ffor the kynges house. 1535 Coverdale 1 Chron. xxii. [xxi.] 15 And euen in the destruccion the Lorde considered, and he repented of the euel. 1602 Shakes. Ham. v. i. 227 'Twere to consider to curiously to consider so. 1611 ― Cymb. ii. iii. 20. 1726 Chetwood Adv. Capt. R. Boyle 3, I..found the door shut. Standing a Moment to consider, I heard a Man's Voice speaking to my Mistress. 1738 Pope Epil. Sat. ii. 43 The matter's weighty, pray consider twice. 1890 Besant Demoniac i. 16 Mr. Atheling, sir, consider: you'll kill yourself!

fig. 1700 Dryden Fables, Meleager & A. 252 The tears that stood consid'ring in her eyes.

  † b. To take heed, be careful to do a thing. Obs.

1646 H. Lawrence Comm. Angells 60 Let them consider to get loose; or they will find a worse state behinde. 1677–8 Marvell Corr. Wks. 1872–5 II. 598 The said Committee do consider to make a distinction of Popish Recusants from other Dissenters from the Church of England.

  † 6. trans. To estimate, reckon, judge of. Obs.

c 1391 Chaucer Astrol. i. §17 By this cercle equinoxial ben considered the 24 howres of the Clokke. 1398 Trevisa Barth. De P.R. v. vi. (1495) 112 The werkyng of the eye is demyd and considered by sharpe and dymme. 1539 Taverner Erasm. Prov. (1552) 12 By one consider all, that is to say, of the profe of one thynge, coniecture the reste.

  7. To take into practical consideration or regard; to show consideration or regard for; to regard, make allowance for.

c 1385 Chaucer L.G.W. Prol. 408 Than oght a God..Consydre his owen honour, and hys trespas. c 1460 Fortescue Abs. & Lim. Mon. xii, Theise ffolke consideren litill the good off the reaume off Englond. 1535 Coverdale Ps. xl. 1 Blessed is he y{supt} considreth y⊇ poore. 1646 Sir T. Browne Pseud. Ep. i. ii. 6 We now doe hope the mercies of God will consider our degenerated integrities unto some minoration of our offences. 1771 Antiq. Sarisb., Lives of Bps. 165 Until the Restoration, when his sufferings and merits were considered, and he promoted to Winchester. 1873 Black Pr. Thule xxiv. 393, I think you should consider yourself a little bit now.

  † 8. To recognize or take account of the services of (a person) in a practical way; to requite, recompense, remunerate: see consideration 5, 6. Obs.

1585 Abp. Sandys Serm. (1841) Consider the holy father for his parchment and lead. a 1601 J. Hooker Life Sir P. Carew (1857) 67 Nevertheless the queen considered him very liberally and gave him very good things. 1603 Shakes. Meas. for M. i. ii. 114 You that haue worne your eyes almost out in the seruice, you will be considered. 1611 ― Wint. T. iv. ii. 19. 1633 T. Stafford Pac. Hib. viii. (1821) 110 So that your Honour consider us with a peece of money. 1698 H. Wanley in Lett. Lit. Men (Camden) 264 If..the University will consider me for it, I will bring it along with me.

  9. To hold in or treat with consideration or regard; to think much or highly of; to esteem, respect.

1692 J. M. Zingis 176 Almandzar was consider'd according to his Desert. a 1714 Burnet Own Time II. 3 The King considered him. 1779–81 Johnson L.P., Milton Wks. II. 118 A pamphlet..which was..enough considered to be both seriously and ludicrously answered. 1848 Macaulay Hist. Eng. I. 513 A man who unites eloquence, knowledge, and habits of business, to opulence and illustrious descent must be highly considered.

  10. To regard in a certain light or aspect; to look upon (as), think (to be), take for.

a 1533 Ld. Berners Huon lxxxi. 250 Consyderyng his dedes and saynges to be true. 1659 Vulg. Errors Censured 66 They split presently against the Rock of Ages, considered as Man, who might support them considered as God. 1784 J. Potter Virt. Villagers II. 69 He considers wealth of little importance. 1797–1804 T. Bewick Brit. Birds (1847) I. 116 This species is not considered with us as migratory. 1842 Marryat P. Keene xxi, He is considered a rich man. 1875 Bryce Holy Rom. Emp. iii. (ed. 5) 23 [This] was considered the most solemn of all oaths. 1889 A. Lang Prince Prigio vi. 40 Sir! you have insulted your prince..Consider yourself under arrest!

  b. with obj. and compl. or obj. clause: To think, be of opinion, suppose.

1830 D'Israeli Chas. I, iii. v. 73 He was often considered to speak in anger, when nothing was so intended. 1875 Jevons Money (1878) 92 He considers that the principal currency should consist of decagrams of gold. Mod. I consider him to have acted disgracefully.

  11. to consider of: to think attentively or carefully of; = sense 3. (Now somewhat archaic.) † Formerly also in senses 1, 7, and 9.

1568 Grafton Chron. II. 306 In taking their leave..they shewed him their necessitie, desiring hym to consyder of them. a 1571 Jewel Serm. 1 Thess. ii. 14–6 Wks. (Parker Soc.) 839 We must also carefully consider of other churches abroad. 1576 Fleming Panopl. Epist. 21 The office..will be better considered off on your behalfe. 1611 Bible Transl. Pref. 8 [They] set them forth openly to be considered of and perused by all. 1650 Cromwell Lett. & Sp. (1871) III. 81, I have considered of the letter. 1775 Sheridan Rivals ii. i, I give you six hours and a half to consider of this. 1837 Hawthorne Twice-told T., P. Goldthwaite's Treas., And so, Peter, you won't even consider of the business? 1860 Ruskin Mod. Paint. V. ix. x. §8. 307 Let us consider of the Hesperides themselves. 1891 Bank of Engl. Notice in Times 4 Mar., A General Court will be held at The Bank on Thursday..to consider of a Dividend.

  † b. So consider on, upon: to ‘think upon’.

1606 Holland Sueton. 98 Whether..there fall out any occurrent to be considered upon with more care and diligence. 1655–60 Stanley Hist. Philos. (1701) 26/2 Consider on serious things. 1681–2 Pennsylv. Archives I. 39 If your Lordshipp will consider on it. 1785 Candid Rem. Stage Bill 8 It is the duty of every..Irishman to consider upon it.

  12. considered, the pa. pple. (formerly placed before its n.), is used in an absolute clause, = ‘being taken into account’. [OF. considéré que.] Cf. considering prep.

c 1385 Chaucer L.G.W. Prol. 225 Considered eke hir fret of golde above. ? 1426 Lett. Marg. of Anjou (Camden 1863) 33 Considered this that here is reherced. c 1433 Ibid. 51 Considered that the said Christopher may not goodly be oute of our service. 1485 Caxton Paris & V. 46 Consydered the grete loue that he hath alway had toward me. 1542 Boorde Dyetary viii. (1870) 246 The stronge man doth hym selfe lytel pleasure, all thynges consydered. 1749 F. Smith Voy. Disc. N.W. Pass. II. 275 All the officers were unanimous that it was impracticable, the Peoples indisposition considered. 1784 J. Potter Virt. Villagers I. 163 All things considered, I think it will be most adviseable for you to stifle your passion. 1788 Gentl. Mag. LVIII. 1153 It is enough, considered how easy it is to copy out words from other Dictionaries.

Oxford English Dictionary