Consent, v. i. [imp. & p.p. Consented; p.pr. & vb.n Consenting.]
Etymology: [F. consentir, fr. L. consentire, -sensum, to feel together, agree; con- + sentire to feel. See Sense.]
1. To agree in opinion or sentiment; to be of the same mind; to accord; to concur. And Saul was consenting unto his death. Acts. viii. 1. Flourishing many years before Wyclif, and much consenting with him in jugdment. Fuller.
2. To indicate or express a willingness; to yield to guidance, persuasion, or necessity; to give assent or approval; to comply. My poverty, but not my will, consents. Shak. And whispering "I will ne'er consent," -- consented. Byron.
Syn. -- To accede; yield; assent; comply; agree; allow; concede; permit; admit; concur; acquiesce.
2 other Webster entries under this spelling
Consent, v. t.
To grant; to allow; to assent to; to admit. [Obs.] Interpreters . . . will not consent it to be a true story. Milton.
Consent, n.
1. Agreement in opinion or sentiment; the being of one mind; accord. All with one consent began to make exuse. Luke xiv. 18. They feil together all, as by consent. Shak.
2. Correspondence in parts, qualities, or operations; agreement; harmony; coherence. The melodious consent of the birds. Holland. Such is the world's great harmony that springs From union, order, full consent of things. Pope.
3. Voluntary accordance with, or concurrence in, what is done or proposed by another; acquiescence; compliance; approval; permission. Thou wert possessed of David's throne By free consent of all. Milton.
4. (Law)
Capable, deliberate, and voluntary assent or agreement to, or concurrence in, some act or purpose, implying physical and mental power and free action.
5. (Physiol.)
Sympathy. See Sympathy, 4.
Syn. -- Assent; acquiescence; concurrence; agreement; approval; permission. See Assent. Age of consent (Law), an age, fixed by statute and varying in different jurisdictions, at which one is competent to give consent. Sexual intercourse with a female child under the age of consent is punishable as rape.
Shades of meaning
Fernald has no entry of its own for consent; he lists it under agree, harmony, permission.
Where he writes about it:
Accede expresses the more formal agreement, consent the more complete. — from agree
To assent is an act of the understanding; to consent, of the will. — from agree
Assent is sometimes used for a mild form of consent, as if agreement in the opinion assured approval of the decision. — from agree
We allow a child's innocent intrusion; we concede a right; grant a request; consent to a sale of property; permit an inspection of accounts; sanction a marriage; tolerate the rudeness of a well-meaning servant; submit to a surgical operation; yield to a demand or necessity against our wish or will, or yield something under compulsion; as, the sheriff yielded the keys at the muzzle of a revolver, and allowed the mob to enter. — from allow
Congruity involves the element of suitableness; consistency implies the absence of conflict or contradiction in views, statements, or acts which are brought into comparison, as in the different statements of the same person or the different periods of one man's life; unanimity is the complete hearty agreement of many; consent and concurrence refer to decision or action, but consent is more passive than concurrence; one speaks by general consent when no one in the assembly cares to make formal objection; a decision of the Supreme Court depends upon the concurrence of a majority of the judges. — from harmony
Consent is permission by the concurrence of wills in two or more persons, a mutual approval or acceptance of something proposed. — from permission