[f. L. consociāt- ppl. stem of consociāre to associate, conjoin in fellowship, f. con- together + sociāre to associate, f. socius sharing, partaking, in partnership, fellow.]
1. trans. To associate together, bring into association, companionship, partnership; to conjoin in action, etc.
1566. Painter, Pal. Pleas., I. 80. That bande … that doeth consociate and ioyne in nature, the parentes towarde their children.
c. 1630. Risdon, Surv. Devon, § 22 (1810), 30. Colly consociateth its waters with Axe.
1658. Ussher, Ann., vi. 210. Other Kings … had consociated their Fleets with Autophradates.
1715. Bentley, Serm., x. 346. They have consociated Jesus with Belial.
1876. Bancroft, Hist. U. S., II. xxx. 243. In Connecticut … the Puritan Clergy, who were then … consociated with the legislature.
1889. H. F. Wood, Englishman of Rue Caïn, vi. 83. It was not anything consociated with either frost or snow.
b. spec. of Congregational churches in New England.
1796. Morse, Amer. Geog., I. 270. There are few congregational churches that are consociated on the above principles.
2. intr. To associate together, enter into association, fellowship, partnership, union; spec. in New England, to join in a consociation of churches.
1638. Jackson, Creed, IX. xvii. Wks. VIII. 287. Between the parties consociating.
1654. Trapp, Comm. Psalms ii. 2. They consociate … to fight against his annoynted.
1692. Bentley, Boyle Lect., vii. 235. Without ever consociating into the huge condense Bodies of Planets.
1801. Ann. Reg., 1800, Pref. 4. May all civilized nations consociate and co-operate for the general good.
1854. H. Miller, Sch. & Schm. (1858), 321. Lodgers … consociating together in pairs.
3. To associate or keep company with.
1656. H. More, Antid. Ath., III. xiii. (1712), 126. The main reason why good spirits so seldom consociate with men.
1826. E. Irving, Babylon, II. 388. Sweetly consociating with those men who have in them the spirit of Antichrist.
Hence Consociated ppl. a., Consociating ppl. a. and vbl. sb.
1616. T. Godwin, Moses & Aaron (1655), 175. The Hebrew word signifieth conjoining or consociating.
1669. Baxter, Power Mag. & Ch. Past., II. xxix. (1671), 32. The Concordant determination of Consociated Churches.
1828. E. Irving, Last Days, 180. The covenant of wedlock, under whose united and consociated canopy all the health and prosperity of the rising generation doth grow.
