consensus
(kənˈsɛnsəs)
[a. L. consensus agreement, accord, sympathy, common feeling, f. consens- ppl. stem of consentīre: see consent. Used in the physiological sense by Bausner, De consensu partium humani corporis, 1556, whence sense 1 in mod.F. and English.]
1. Phys. General agreement or concord of different parts or organs of the body in effecting a given purpose; sympathy. Hence transf. of the members or parts of any system of things.
| 1854 G. Brimley Ess., Comte 320 In the universe..he resolves to see only a vast consensus of forces. 1861 Goldw. Smith Lect. Mod. Hist. 24 There is a general connexion between the different parts of a nation's civilization; call it, if you will, a consensus, provided that the notion of a set of physical organs does not slip in with that term. 1870 H. Spencer Princ. Psychol. I. ii. ix. 278 A mutually-dependent set of organs having a consensus of functions. |
2. a. Agreement in opinion; the collective unanimous opinion of a number of persons.
| 1861 Sat. Rev. 21 Dec. 637 Bishop Colenso is..decidedly against what seems to be the consensus of the Protestant missionaries. 1880 Athenæum 10 Apr. 474/3 A consensus had actually been arrived at on the main features involved. |
| transf. 1884 H. A. Holden Plutarch's Themist. 190 The consensus of [the MSS.] ABC leaves no room for doubt about a reading. |
b. Also
consensus of opinion,
authority,
testimony, etc.
| 1858 Sat. Rev. V. 287/1 Supported by a great consensus of very weighty evidence. 1874 H. R. Reynolds John Bapt. v. i. 289 Sustained by a great consensus of opinion. |
3. attrib. and
Comb.| 1966 New Statesman 21 Oct. 583/3 The essence of consensus politics is directly related to consensus communications. 1967 Listener 3 Aug. 136/2 Consensus journalism—with its millionaire proprietors and its multitudinous advertising departments—has been praised for being politically permissive. 1968 Peace News 10 May 10/2 Cicero..is a more dubious case—an unsuccessful consensus-politician, if ever there was one. |