Consolidate, a.
Etymology: [L. consolidatus, p.pr. of consolidare to make firm; con- + solidare to make firm; solidus solid. See Solid, and cf. Consound.]
Formed into a solid mass; made firm; consolidated. [R.] A gentleman [should learn to ride] while he is tender and the brawns and sinews of his thighs not fully consolidate. Elyot.
2 other Webster entries under this spelling
Consolidate, v. t. [imp. & p.p. Consolidated; p.pr. & vb.n. Consolidating.]
1. To make solid; to unite or press together into a compact mass; to harden or make dense and firm. He fixed and consolidated the earth. T. Burnet.
2. To unite, as various particulars, into one mass or body; to bring together in close union; to combine; as, to consolidate the armies of the republic. Consolidating numbers into unity. Wordsworth.
3. (Surg.)
To unite by means of applications, as the parts of a broken bone, or the lips of a wound. [R.]
Syn. -- To unite; combine; harden; compact; condense; compress.
Consolidate, v. i.
To grow firm and hard; to unite and become solid; as, moist clay consolidates by drying. In hurts and ulcers of the head, dryness maketh them more apt to consolidate. Bacon.
Shades of meaning
Fernald lists consolidate only as an antonym, under apportion.
He lists it without comment; the entries above explain its neighbors.