Con-sist′ence or Con-sist′en-cy, n.
n. [Fr. consistance, Pr., Sp., & Pg. consistencia, It. consistenza.]
Sense 1. The condition of standing or adhering firmly together, or being fixed in union, as the parts of a body; existence; firmness; coherence; solidity.
Water, being divided, maketh many circles, till it restore itself to the natural consistence. Bacon.
There is the same necessity for the divine influence and regimen, to order, govern, conserve, and keep together the universe in that consistence it hath received, as it was at first to give it. Hales.
Sense 2. A degree of firmness, density, or spissitude.
Let the expressed juices be boiled into the consistence of a sirup. Arbuthnot.
Sense 3. That which stands together as a united whole; a combination.
The church of God, as meaning the whole consistence of orders and members. Milton.
Sense 4. Firmness of constitution or character; substantiality.
His friendship is of a noble make and a lasting consistency. South.
Sense 5. Agreement or harmony of all parts of a complex thing among themselves, or of the same thing with itself at different times; congruity; correspondence; as, the consistency of laws, regulations, or judicial decisions; consistency of opinions; consistency of conduct or of character.
That consistency of behavior whereby he inflexibly pursues those measures which appear the most just. Addison.