Result, n.
1. A flying back; resilience. [Obs.] Sound is produced between the string and the air by the return or the result of the string. Bacon.
2. That which results; the conclusion or end to which any course or condition of things leads, or which is obtained by any process or operation; consequence or effect; as, the result of a course of action; the result of a mathematical operation. If our proposals once again were heard, We should compel them to a quick result. Milton.
3. The decision or determination of a council or deliberative assembly; a resolve; a decree. Then of their session ended they bid cry With trumpet's regal sound the great result. Milton.
Syn. -- Effect; consequence; conclusion; inference; issue; event. See Effect.
1 other Webster entry under this spelling
Result, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Resulted; p. pr. & vb. n. Resulting.]
1. To leap back; to rebound. [Obs.] The huge round stone, resulting with a bound. Pope.
2. To come out, or have an issue; to terminate; to have consequences; -- followed by in; as, this measure will result in good or in evil.
3. To proceed, spring, or rise, as a consequence, from facts, arguments, premises, combination of circumstances, consultation, thought, or endeavor. Pleasure and peace do naturally result from a holy and good life. Tillotson. Resulting trust (Law), a trust raised by implication for the benefit of a party granting an estate. The phrase is also applied to a trust raised by implication for the benefit of a party who advances the purchase money of an estate, etc. Bouvier. -- Resulting use (Law), a use which, being limited by the deed, expires or can not vest, and thence returns to him who raised it. Bouvier.
Syn. -- To proceed; spring; rise; arise; ensue; terminate.
Shades of meaning
Fernald has no entry of its own for result; he lists it under consequence, end, event, follow, harvest, operation.
Where he writes about it:
The result is, literally, the rebound of an act, depending on many elements; the issue is that which flows forth directly; we say the issue of a battle, the result of a campaign. — from consequence
The end is the actual outcome without determination of its relation to what has gone before; it is ordinarily viewed as either the necessary, natural, or logical outcome, any effect, consequence, or result being termed an end; as, the end of such a course must be ruin. — from consequence
Consequence or result would express more of logical connection, and be more comprehensive. — from event
Harvest has also a figurative use, such as crop more rarely permits; we term a religious revival a harvest of souls; the result of lax enforcement of law is a harvest of crime. — from harvest