different between circumstances vs consequence

English

Pronunciation

• (General American) IPA^(key): /?s?k?mstæns?z/
• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /?s??k?mst(?)ns?z/, /?s??k?mst??ns?z/

Noun

circumstances

1. plural of circumstance

English

Etymology

Borrowed from Old French consequence , from Latin consequentia.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /?k?ns?kw?ns/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /?k?ns?kw?ns/, /?k?ns?kw?ns/

Noun

consequence (plural consequences)

1. That which follows something on which it depends; that which is produced by a cause.
2. A result of actions, especially if such a result is unwanted or unpleasant.
3. A proposition collected from the agreement of other previous propositions; any conclusion which results from reason or argument; inference.
4. Chain of causes and effects; consecution.
5. Importance with respect to what comes after.
6. The power to influence or produce an effect.
7. (especially when preceded by "of") Importance, value, or influence.

Usage notes

• Adjectives often applied to "consequence": social, legal, environmental, political, economic, personal, cultural, moral, unintended, undesirable, likely, probable, necessary, logical, natural, important, significant, bad, disastrous, devastating, fatal, catastrophic, harmful.

Synonyms

• aftercome
• distinction
• implication
• moment
• rank
• repercussion
• value

Related terms

Translations

See also

• causality
• effect
• impact

Verb

consequence (third-person singular simple present consequences, present participle consequencing, simple past and past participle consequenced)

1. (transitive) To threaten or punish (a child, etc.) with specific consequences for misbehaviour.
   • 1998, Terry M. Levy, Michael Orlans, Attachment, trauma, and healing

     The goal of consequencing is to teach the child a lesson that leads to positive choices and behaviors. The goal of punishment is to inflict pain and seek revenge. Angry parenting is punitive and ineffectual.

References

Further reading

• consequence in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• consequence in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.
• consequence at OneLook Dictionary Search