consort

1 of 3

noun (1)

con·​sort ˈkän-ˌsȯrt How to pronounce consort (audio)
1
: associate
the criminal and his consorts
2
: a ship accompanying another
… he could see the brown sail and the red sail of their consortsC. S. Forester
3

consort

2 of 3

noun (2)

1
: conjunction, association
He ruled in consort with his father.
2
: group, assembly
a consort of specialists
3
a
: a group of singers or instrumentalists performing together
b
: a set of musical instruments of the same family

consort

3 of 3

verb

con·​sort kən-ˈsȯrt How to pronounce consort (audio)
kän-ˈsȯrt,
ˈkän-ˌsȯrt
consorted; consorting; consorts

intransitive verb

1
: to keep company
consorting with criminals
2
obsolete : to make harmony : play
3
: accord, harmonize
The illustrations consort admirably with the text.The Times Literary Supplement (London)

Examples of consort in a Sentence

Noun (1) it is the queen's eldest son and not her consort who is next in line for the throne Noun (2) a consort of doctors attended the case hired a consort of madrigal singers to perform at the wedding reception Verb at college she began consorting with drug users, eventually becoming an addict herself the restaurant's sophisticated menu consorts seamlessly with its sleek, modern ambience
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Daemon the King Consort, hold the consort, please, plods through Harrenhal in a maze of his own nightmares. Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 21 July 2024 Located on Rue de Rivoli and overlooking the Tuileries Garden, the hotel has hosted a long line of royals and royal consorts, from Napoleon’s mistress to the Duke and Duchess of Windsor. Jessie Heyman, Vogue, 15 Oct. 2024
Verb
In Riley’s world, the women who consort with such men have been emptied of their confidence and are merely mimicking the men’s aggressive insistence with their own passive-aggressive survivalism. James Wood, The New Yorker, 6 Feb. 2023 Pandemic scofflaws like this man are making decisions for other people — people who might not have chosen, say, to consort with the unvaccinated. New York Times, 15 Mar. 2022 See all Example Sentences for consort 

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1) and Verb

Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin consort-, consors partner, sharer, from com- + sort-, sors lot, share — more at series

Noun (2)

Middle French consorte, from consort — see consort entry 1

First Known Use

Noun (1)

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

1584, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1588, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of consort was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near consort

Cite this Entry

“Consort.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/consort. Accessed 29 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

consort

1 of 2 noun
con·​sort ˈkän-ˌsȯ(ə)rt How to pronounce consort (audio)
1
2
: spouse

consort

2 of 2 verb
con·​sort
kən-ˈsȯ(ə)rt
: to go together as companions : associate
consorting with criminals

More from Merriam-Webster on consort

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