[ad. L. consultā-re, freq. of consulĕre, consult-um to take counsel, ask counsel of (see COUNSEL), related to consul, and consilium COUNSEL.]
1. intr. To take counsel together, deliberate, confer; also said of a person deliberating with himself. Const. † of (obs.), upon, about.
1565–73. Cooper, Thesaurus, Consilium summis de rebus habebant. Virg. They consulted of great matters.
1594. Shaks., Rich. III., V. iii. 45. Come Gentlemen, Let vs consult vpon to morrowes Businesse.
1598. Grenewey, Tacitus’ Ann. (1603), 264. In their banket, they consult of peace and warre.
1628. Hobbes, Thucyd. (1822), 154. He that consulteth wisely, is a sorer enemy than he that assaulteth … unadvisedly.
1711. Addison, Spect., No. 69, ¶ 1. An assembly of Countrymen and Foreigners consulting together upon the private Business of Mankind.
1791. Cowper, Iliad, IV. 2. The gods all sat consulting.
2. Consult with: To take counsel with; to seek advice from. Also in indirect pass.
1548. Hall, Chron., 162 b. [He] came to London … where he deliberately consulted with his especial frendes.
1611. Bible, 2 Chron. xx. 21. When he had consulted with the people, he appointed Singers.
1678. Aubrey, in Ray’s Corr. (1848), 129. [He desires that] Mr. Ray, may be consulted with for making such alterations.
1830. D’Israeli, Chas. I., III. ii. 18. [He] adopted the opinions of those with whom he consulted.
b. To take counsel with, refer to (a book, author, etc.), for information.
1618. Hales, Gold. Rem. (1673), II. 37. He thinks that if the memories of those in the Synod were consulted with, they would all confirm it.
1639. Fuller, Holy War (1647), 236. Consulting with maps.
1655. Marq. Worcester, Cent. Inv., § 78. A watch … to be now and then consulted with concerning the hour of the day.
1668. Heylin, Cyprianus Angl., 320. A man extremely well versed in old records, with which consulting, frequently, in the course of his studies.
c. See also 5 b.
† 3. trans. To confer about, deliberate upon, debate, discuss, consider (a matter). Obs.
c. 1540. Life of Fisher, Introd. 54. There was this ye kings matter debated … and consulted the space of many daies.
a. 1674. Clarendon, Hist. Reb. (1717), II. II. VIII. 479. Many things were there consulted for the future.
1703. Moxon, Mech. Exerc., 138. Which Scantlins were well consulted by able Workmen before they were reduced into an Act.
b. with the matter expressed by a clause.
1553. T. Wilson, Rhet., 6. Consultyng whether the cause be profitable or unprofitable.
1611. Bible, John xii. 10. The chief priests consulted that they might put Lazarus also to death.
1691. Ray, Creation (1714), 197. If we were rationally to consult whether the Axis of the Earth were better be held steady … or left at random.
a. 1700. Dryden, Misc. Wks., 1760, IV. 25. But when shall be the time to fight, the king consults with me.
† 4. To take counsel to bring about; to meditate, plan, devise, contrive. a. with simple obj. Obs.
1611. Bible, Micah vi. 5. Remember now what Balak king of Moab consulted. Ibid., Hab. ii. 10. Thou hast consulted shame to thy house.
1658. Ussher, Ann., 878. Vologeses was supposed to have consulted the invading of Armenia.
b. with infinitive. arch.
1555. Eden, Decades, 227. They consulted to burne the shyppe.
1611. Bible, Ps. lxii. 4.
1646. Evelyn, Mem. (1857), I. 233. He consulted to remove the whole wall by binding it about with ribs of iron and timber, to convey it into France.
5. To provide for by consultation; to have especial respect or beneficial reference to (a person’s good, interest, convenience, etc.) in forming plans; to take into consideration, have an eye to. [L. consulere alicui.]
1658. R. Franck, North. Mem. (1821), p. vi. [We] see a preternatural cloud arise that neither men nor counsels were prophetick enough to consult.
1682. Dryden, Religio Laici, 396. Every man … Consulted soberly his private good, And saved himself as cheap as e’er he could.
1712. Addison, Spect., No. 311, ¶ 6. Those whose Safety I would principally consult.
1754. Sherlock, Disc. (1759), I. i. 49. The Honour of God and the Salvation of Men shall be at once consulted.
1884. Sir J. Stephen, in Law Rep., 12 Queen’s B. 286. We should consult neither the public interest, nor the interests of parliament and the constitution, nor our own dignity.
b. intr. † To consult with (obs.), consult for: in the same sense.
1639. Fuller, Holy War (1647), 115. He neither consulted with his health nor honour. Ibid. (1645), Good Th. in Bad T. (1841), 40. High time for men of honour who consult with their credit to desist from such sins.
1814. Southey, Roderick, XVIII. For the general weal Consulting first.
1864. J. H. Newman, Apol., 294. In doing this, I believe I am consulting for the good of my parish.
6. To ask advice of, seek counsel from; to have recourse to for instruction, guidance, or professional advice.
a. (a person).
1635. [see c].
1706. Phillips (ed. Kersey), Consult, to advise with, or take Advice of.
1768. Sterne, Sent. Journ. (1775), I. 27. She has some … tartufish aunt … to consult upon the occasion.
1860. Tyndall, Glac., I. xxvii. 209. The men returned, and I consulted them as to the possibility of getting a line across at the Ponts.
1861. Smiles, Lives Eng., II. 480. One of the last works on which Mr. Telford was professionally consulted was … the improvement of Dover Harbour.
1878. J. de Styrap, Code Med. Ethics, 35. When a practitioner is consulted by a patient.
1878. Morley, Diderot, I. 25. When an author consulted him about a work.
b. fig. (a thing personified).
To consult one’s pillow (F. consulter son chevet): to think over a thing at night; to take a night for reflection: see PILLOW.
1665. Pepys, Diary, 19 May. Not to do anything suddenly, but consult my pillow.
1709. Addison, Tatler, No. 102, ¶ 1. When she consulted her Looking-glass.
1770. Placid Man, II. 198. She determined to consult her pillow upon it.
1875. Hamerton, Intell. Life, I. v. (1876), 29. He never consulted the weather.
c. spec. To refer to (a book or author); to ‘look up’ for information on some point.
1635. Austin, Medit., 222. Both these last [ancient authors] I have consulted.
1664. Evelyn, Kal. Hort. (1729), 190. Consult my French Gardiner.
1710. Berkeley, Princ. Hum. Knowl., § 24. We consult the writings of learned men.
1839. G. Bird, Nat. Philos., 400. The reader should consult the Treatise on Optics by Sir Isaac Newton.
d. To consult one’s feelings: to have respect to or regard for them in forming a determination. (Here there is an admixture of sense 5.)
c. 1832. Lives Brit. Physicians, 267. However wisely Jenner may have consulted his own feelings on this occasion, the public lost the benefit of his judgement.
