▪ I. consult, v.
(kənˈsʌlt)
[ad. L. consultā-re, freq. of consulĕre, consult-um to take counsel, ask counsel of (see counsel), related to consul, and consilium counsel.]
1. intr. To take counsel together, deliberate, confer; also said of a person deliberating with himself. Const. † of (obs.), upon, about.
| 1565–73 Cooper Thesaurus, Consilium summis de rebus habebant. Virg. They consulted of great matters. 1594 Shakes. Rich. III, v. iii. 45 Come Gentlemen, Let vs consult vpon to morrowes Businesse. 1598 R. Grenewey Tacitus' Ann. (1603) 264 In their banket, they consult of peace and warre. 1628 Hobbes Thucyd. (1822) 154 He that consulteth wisely, is a sorer enemy than he that assaulteth..unadvisedly. 1711 Addison Spect. No. 69 ¶1 An assembly of Countrymen and Foreigners consulting together upon the private Business of Mankind. 1791 Cowper Iliad iv. 2 The gods all sat consulting. |
2. consult with: To take counsel with; to seek advice from. Also in indirect pass.
| 1548 Hall Chron. 162 b, [He] came to London..where he deliberately consulted with his especial frendes. 1611 Bible 2 Chron. xx. 21 When he had consulted with the people, he appointed Singers. 1678 Aubrey in Ray's Corr. (1848) 129 [He desires that] Mr. Ray, may be consulted with for making such alterations. 1830 D'Israeli Chas. I, III. ii. 18 [He] adopted the opinions of those with whom he consulted. |
b. To take counsel with, refer to (a book, author, etc.), for information.
| 1618 Hales Gold. Rem. (1673) ii. 37 He thinks that if the memories of those in the Synod were consulted with, they would all confirm it. 1639 Fuller Holy War (1647) 236 Consulting with maps. 1655 Marquis of Worcester Cent. Inv. §78 A watch..to be now and then consulted with concerning the hour of the day. 1668 Heylin Cyprianus Angl. 320 A man extremely well versed in old records, with which consulting, frequently, in the course of his studies. |
c. See also 5 b.
† 3. trans. To confer about, deliberate upon, debate, discuss, consider (a matter). Obs.
| c 1540 Life of Fisher Introd. 54 There was this y⊇ kings matter debated..and consulted the space of many daies. a 1674 Clarendon (J.), Many things were there consulted for the future. 1703 Moxon Mech. Exerc. 138 Which Scantlins were well consulted by able Workmen before they were reduced into an Act. |
b. with the matter expressed by a clause.
| 1553 T. Wilson Rhet. 6 Consultyng whether the cause be profitable or unprofitable. 1611 Bible John xii. 10 The chief priests consulted that they might put Lazarus also to death. 1691 Ray Creation (1714) 197 If we were rationally to consult whether the Axis of the Earth were better be held steady..or left at random. a 1700 Dryden Misc. Wks. 1760 IV. 25 But when shall be The time to fight, the king consults with me. |
† 4. To take counsel to bring about; to meditate, plan, devise, contrive. a. with simple obj. Obs.
| 1611 Bible Micah vi. 5 Remember now what Balak king of Moab consulted. ― Hab. ii. 10 Thou hast consulted shame to thy house. 1658 Ussher Ann. 878 Vologeses was supposed to have consulted the invading of Armenia. |
b. with inf.. arch.
| 1555 Eden Decades 227 They consulted to burne the shyppe. 1611 Bible Ps. lxii. 4. 1646 Evelyn Mem. (1857) I. 233 He consulted to remove the whole wall by binding it about with ribs of iron and timber, to convey it into France. |
5. To provide for by consultation; to have especial respect or beneficial reference to (a person's good, interest, convenience, etc.) in forming plans; to take into consideration, have an eye to. [L. consulere alicui.]
| 1658 R. Franck North. Mem. (1821) p. vi, [We] see a preternatural cloud arise that neither men nor counsels were prophetick enough to consult. 1682 Dryden Religio Laici 396 Every man..Consulted soberly his private good, And saved himself as cheap as e'er he could. 1712 Addison Spect. No. 311 ¶6 Those whose Safety I would principally consult. 1754 Sherlock Disc. (1759) I. i. 49 The Honour of God and the Salvation of Men shall be at once consulted. 1884 Sir J. Stephen in Law Rep. 12 Queen's B. 286 We should consult neither the public interest, nor the interests of parliament and the constitution, nor our own dignity. |
b. intr. † to consult with (obs.), consult for: in the same sense.
| 1639 Fuller Holy War (1647) 115 He neither consulted with his health nor honour. 1645 ― Good Th. in Bad T. (1841) 40 High time for men of honour who consult with their credit to desist from such sins. 1814 Southey Roderick xviii, For the general weal Consulting first. 1864 J. H. Newman Apol. 294 In doing this, I believe I am consulting for the good of my parish. |
6. To ask advice of, seek counsel from; to have recourse to for instruction, guidance, or professional advice. a. (a person). Also in mod. use, to seek permission or approval from (a person) for a proposed action.
| 1635 [see c]. 1706 Phillips (ed. Kersey), Consult, to advise with, or take Advice of. 1768 Sterne Sent. Journ. (1775) I. 27 She has some..tartufish aunt..to consult upon the occasion. 1860 Tyndall Glac. i. xxvii. 209 The men returned, and I consulted them as to the possibility, etc. 1861 Smiles Lives Eng. II. 480 One of the last works on which Mr. Telford was professionally consulted was..the improvement of Dover Harbour. 1878 Styrap Code Med. Ethics 35 When a practitioner is consulted by a patient. 1878 Morley Diderot I. 25 When an author consulted him about a work. 1903 G. B. Shaw Man & Superman iv. 148 Provided it is understood that my son is altogether dependent on me, and that I have to be consulted in any important step he may propose to take. 1924 A. A. Milne When we were very Young 32 You must never go down to the end of the town without consulting me. 1928 W. B. Yeats tr. Sophocles' King Oedipus 26 Without consulting my father or my mother I went to Delphi. 1930 D. L. Sayers Strong Poison xiv. 183, I have determined to put my property in Trust with you, so that you may have full power to handle everything according to your own discretion, without having to consult me every time. 1951 W. Faulkner Requiem for Nun i. 13 Not that he would have..refused his permission except by simple instinct;..but he would have refused at once if he thought the thing was contemplated without consulting him. 1985 N.Y. Times 7 July ii. 25/2 Before selecting the designs, the Secretary of the Treasury must consult the chairmen of the Statue of Liberty–Ellis Island Foundation Inc. and the Federal Commission of Fine Arts. |
b. fig. (a thing personified).
to consult one's pillow (F. consulter son chevet): to think over a thing at night; to take a night for reflection: see pillow.
| 1665 Pepys Diary 19 May, Not to do anything suddenly, but consult my pillow. 1709 Addison Tatler No. 102 ¶1 When she consulted her Looking-glass. 1770 Placid Man II. 198 She determined to consult her pillow upon it. 1875 Hamerton Intell. Life i. v. (1876) 29 He never consulted the weather. |
c. spec. To refer to (a book or author); to ‘look up’ for information on some point.
| 1635 Austin Medit. 222 Both these last [ancient authors] I have consulted. 1664 Evelyn Kal. Hort. (1729) 190 Consult my French Gardiner. 1710 Berkeley Princ. Hum. Knowl. §24 We consult the writings of learned men. 1839 G. Bird Nat. Phil. 400 The reader should consult the Treatise on Optics by Sir Isaac Newton. |
d. to consult one's feelings: to have respect to or regard for them in forming a determination. (Here there is an admixture of sense 5.)
| c 1832 Lives Brit. Physicians 267 However wisely Jenner may have consulted his own feelings on this occasion, the public lost the benefit of his judgement. |
▪ II. consult, n.1 Obs. exc. Hist.
(kənˈsʌlt, ˈkɒnsʌlt)
[a. F. consulte = It., Sp., med.L. consulta, f. pa. pple. consultus, -a, -um of L. consulĕre to counsel, consult. But in sense 3 it represents L. consultum, It. consulto, consultation, decision, etc.; and it may have been often taken as a direct formation from the verb, as in appeal, demand, request, etc. In verse, conˈsult is usual; ˈconsult occurs in Garth 1699, Tate, Swift 1730.]
1. The action of consulting, consultation.
| 1560 Frampton in Strype Ann. Ref. I. xx. 242 The man of law..sitteth by the inquisitors in their consult. 1641 Shirley Cardinal iv. i, The King and Cardinal in consult! 1646 Sir T. Browne Pseud. Ep. iv. x. 201 Upon consult of reason, there will bee found no easie assurance. 1700 Rowe Amb. Step-Mother i. i. 35 As I past The outward rooms, I found 'em in consult. 1715–20 Pope Iliad i. 719 Seen In close consult. 1806 J. Grahame Birds Scot. 67 Or clustering sit, as if in deep consult. |
b. (with a and pl.) A consultation.
| 1600 Holland Livy i. ii. iv. 35 Whom their Uncles likewise took for their Assistants in that Consult. a 1674 Clarendon Hist. Reb. xi. (1843) 694/1 There were many secret consults what to do with him. 1750 Carte Hist. Eng. II. 321 Their consults produced resolutions of violence. 1845 Carlyle Cromwell (1871) IV. 116 What profound consults there were! 1889 Blackw. Mag. Feb. 247 The consult took place at St. James's. |
† c. A counsel. Obs.
| 1654 Cokaine Dianea i. 67 If ever the candidness of my thoughts..and the freedome of my Consults have aimed at any thing then the Reputation of your Majesty. |
† d. Subject of consultation or deliberation.
| 1683 Cave Ecclesiastici 278 His next Consult was, in what course of life he should fix himself. 1689 T. R. View Govt. Europe 70 All their consult is how to cheat him. |
2. A meeting for consultation; the body of persons so meeting; in 17th c. often spec. a secret meeting for purposes of sedition or intrigue, a cabal.
| c 1634 Earl of Strafford in Browning Life (1890) 154 Take heed of private meetings and consults in your chambers. 1678 Butler Hud. iii. ii. 149 Both Parties..Hearded only in Consults. 1683 Luttrell Brief Rel. (1857) I. 267 He had been at several consults for the taking of the king. 1700 Brown Dufresny's Amusem. 93 He died of the Doctor. See a Consult of them marching in State to a Patient, attended by a Diminutive Apothecary. 1762 Hume Hist. Eng. (1806) V. lxviii. 142 Stafford had assisted in a great consult of the catholics held at Tixal. 1823 Scott Peveril xxiii, You saw him at a consult of the Jesuits in London. |
3. Rom. Hist. A decree of the senate [L. senatus consultum].
| 1533 Bellenden Livy v. (1822) 476 Be consult of the senate, he gaif his lauboris, first, that the templis..suld be recounseld, renewit, and purifyit. 1832 Austin Jurispr. (1879) II. xxviii. 532 It has often been inferred from a passage in Tacitus that consults or acts of the senate first acquired this virtue under the reign of Tiberius. |
▪ III. † conˈsult, n.2 Obs. rare.
[ad. L. consult-us a skilled adviser.]
A skilled practitioner.
| 1704 Gentl. Instruct. (1732) 543 (D.) ‘Bon,’ cries the consult, ‘a happy prognostic’. ‘It cast her into convulsions,’ continued the maid. ‘Better yet,’ says the consult. 1778 Johnson in Boswell (1831) IV. 138 So we have Juris consultus, a consult in law. |