consideration

From Middle English consideracioun, from Old French consideracion, from Latin cōnsīderātiō. By surface analysis, consider +‎ -ation.

• IPA^(key): /kənˌsɪdəˈɹeɪʃən/

• Audio (US):

  (file)

• Hyphenation: con‧sid‧er‧ation
• Rhymes: -eɪʃən

consideration (countable and uncountable, plural considerations)

1. The thought process of considering, of taking multiple or specified factors into account (with of being the main corresponding adposition).

   Synonyms: deliberation, thought; see also Thesaurus:consideration

   After much consideration, I have decided to stay.

   Consideration of environmental effects is needed when choosing material.

   • 1850, Charles Dickens, chapter 1, in David Copperfield:

     In consideration of the day and hour of my birth, it was declared by the nurse, and by some sage women in the neighbourhood who had taken a lively interest in me several months before there was any possibility of our becoming personally acquainted, first, that I was destined to be unlucky in life; and secondly, that I was privileged to see ghosts and spirits; both these gifts inevitably attaching, as they believed, to all unlucky infants of either gender, born towards the small hours on a Friday night.

2. Something considered as a reason or ground for a (possible) decision.

   Synonyms: factor, motive, reason

   • 1949, F. A. Hayek, “The Intellectuals and Socialism”, in University of Chicago Law Review, volume 16, number 3, Chicago: University of Chicago, →DOI, page 428:

     Speculations about the possible entire reconstruction of society give the intellectual fare much more to his taste than the more practical and short-run considerations of those who aim at a piecemeal improvement of the existing order.

3. The tendency to consider others and make allowances for their needs or desires.

   You showed remarkable consideration in giving up your place for your friend.

   Will you noisy children show some consideration and stop your infernal screaming? I'm trying to study!

4. A payment or other recompense for something done.

   Sure I'll move my car, but only for a consideration.

   • 1959, Anthony Burgess, Beds in the East (The Malayan Trilogy), published 1972, page 616:

     A Malay here is proving helpful — Syed Omar, who says he's descended from Mohammed — and he's going to take us around. For a consideration, of course, but what the hell!

5. (law) A matter of inducement for something promised; something valuable given as recompense for a promise, which causes the promise to become binding as a contract.
   • 2007, Wikipedia:Contract:

     Consideration is an intention to create legal relations.

   • 2008, A contract:

     In consideration of the performance of B's obligations hereunder, A hereby grants to B's personal license.

6. Importance or regard; a claim to notice or attention.
   • 1919, W[illiam] Somerset Maugham, “chapter 54”, in The Moon and Sixpence, [New York, N.Y.]: Grosset & Dunlap Publishers […], →OCLC:

     [...] settled down on a small property he had near Quimper to live for the rest of his days in peace; but the failure of an attorney left him suddenly penniless, and neither he nor his wife was willing to live in penury where they had enjoyed consideration.

   • 1989 January, Werner Winter, “On a new claim concerning substratum influence upon Tocharian”, in Central Asiatic Journal‎^[1], volume 33, number 1/2, Harrassowitz Verlag, →ISSN, page 132:

     Since his findings are without a foundation in data and a sound analysis thereof, they are nothing but wild and empty claims and do not deserve consideration as a contribution to linguistic and historical studies.

consideration f (plural considerations)

1. alternative form of consyderation