consent

[kuhn-sent]

verb (used without object)

1. to permit, approve, or agree; comply or yield (often followed by to or an infinitive).

   He consented to the proposal. We asked her permission, and she consented.

2. Archaic.,  to agree in sentiment, opinion, etc.; be in harmony.

noun

1. permission, approval, or agreement; sanction; acquiescence.

   He gave his consent to the marriage.

   Synonyms: concurrence, accord

2. agreement in sentiment, opinion, a course of action, etc..

   By common consent he was appointed official delegate.

3. Archaic.,  accord; concord; harmony.

consent

/ kənˈsɛnt /

verb

1. to give assent or permission (to do something); agree; accede

2. obsolete,  (intr) to be in accord; agree in opinion, feelings, etc

noun

1. acquiescence to or acceptance of something done or planned by another; permission

2. accordance or harmony in opinion; agreement (esp in the phrase with one consent )

3. the lowest age at which the law recognizes the right of a person to consent to sexual intercourse

Other Word Forms

• consenter noun
• consenting adjective
• consentingly adverb
• nonconsent noun
• nonconsenting adjective
• preconsent noun
• reconsent verb (used without object)
• unconsenting adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of consent¹

First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English verb consenten, concenten, from Anglo-French, Old French consentir, from Latin consentīre “to join or share a feeling; concur”; noun derivative of the verb; consensus

Word History and Origins

Origin of consent¹

C13: from Old French consentir, from Latin consentīre to feel together, agree, from sentīre to feel

Synonym Study

See agree.

Example Sentences

It is a criminal offence to damage or destroy a scheduled monument or use metal detectors on protected sites without consent.

From BBC

Cutler was charged with DUI, possession of a handgun while under the influence, failure to exercise due care and violating implied consent.

From Los Angeles Times

It means the consent previously granted was ruled unlawful.

From BBC

In addition to her recent work on AI, she was instrumental in pushing through the Take It Down Act which criminalised posting "intimate images" - real or AI-generated - online without an individual's consent.

From BBC

"The next democratic consent vote in 2028 will serve as the clearest indicator of whether the Windsor Framework can command the confidence of both communities in Northern Ireland," he added.

From BBC

Related Words

• acquiescence 
• approval 
• assent 
• authorization 
• blessing 
• compliance 
• concurrence 
• go ahead 
• permission 
• permit 
• sanction 
• understanding