[f. prec., or L. consummāt-, ppl. stem of consummāre to sum up, make up, complete, finish, f. con- altogether + summa sum, summus highest, utmost, supreme, extreme, etc. The ppl. adj. consummate was in earlier use than the vb., and after the latter came into use, continued for some time to be used as its pa. pple., until succeeded in this capacity by consummated. The pronunciation consu·mmate is given in all the dictionaries until within the last few years, but co·nsummate is now prevalent: see CONTEMPLATE. In the adj. consu·mmate is still usual, though co·nsummate is often said.]
1. trans. To bring to completion or full accomplishment; to accomplish, fulfil, complete, finish.
1530. Palsgr., 495/2. I consommate, I make a full ende of a thyng, je consumme.
1580. Lyly, Euphues (Arb.), 450. [This] brought greater desire to them, to consumate them.
1595. Shaks., John, V. vii. 95. To consummate this businesse happily.
1610. Histrio-m., I. 214. The Sunne heere riseth in the East with us … And so hee consummates his circled course In the Ecliptick line.
1632. trans. Bruel’s Praxis Med., 399. This disease is consummated and brought to its full ripenes in 24 houres.
1692. Ray, Dissol. World, 25. God also consummated the Universe in six days.
1725. Pope, Odyss., XX. 18. And let the Peers consummate the disgrace.
1798. Southey, Wife of Fergus, Poems II. 108. As if I knew not what must consummate My glory!
1835. Browning, Paracelsus, II. 48. This done … to perfect and consummate all … I would supply all chasms with music.
1837. Thirlwall, Greece, IV. xxx. 158. Lysander was eager to consummate his victory.
† b. To make an end of, or put an end to, by doing away with. Obs.
1634. Sir T. Herbert, Trav., 135. Arbela, where he [Darius] consummated life and monarchie.
a. 1649. Chas. I., Wks., 292. What more speedy way was there to consummate those distractions then by a personal treaty.
1649. Fuller, Just Man’s Fun., 24. God would … consummate this miserable world, put a period to the dark night.
2. To complete marriage by sexual intercourse.
1540. Act 32 Hen. VIII., c. 25. Your maieste … maie … contract and consummat matrimonie wyth any woman.
1709. Steele, Tatler, No. 11, ¶ 5. Prince Nassau … consummated on the 26th of the last Month his Marriage with the beauteous Princess of Hesse-Cassel.
1766. Goldsm., Vic. W., xxxi. Her aunt … had insisted that her nuptials with Mr. Thornhill should be consummated at her house.
1823. Lingard, Hist. Eng., VI. 202. That the marriage between Arthur and Catharine had been consummated.
b. absol.
1748. H. Walpole, Corr. (1837), I. 128. They consummated at her house.
1762. Scrafton, Indostan (1770), 17. They are married in their infancy, and consummate at fourteen on the male side, and ten or eleven on the female.
1771. Contemplative Man, I. 27. Her Highness was obliged to consummate at a lonely … Cottage, to avoid being discovered.
† 3. To make perfect; to perfect. Obs.
[1535. Goodly Prymer (1834), 165. After they are consummate in all kind of virtue.]
1582. N. T. (Rhem.), Heb. v. 9. Being consummated, he became, to all that obey him, the cause of eternal salvation.
1678. A. Lovell, trans. La Fontaine’s Mil. Duties Cavalry, 79. Consummated in the experience of War.
4. intr. (for refl.) To fulfil or perfect itself.
1839. Bailey, Festus (1848), p. xvi. From the first These things were fixed, and are and aye shall be Consummating.
1844. Mrs. Browning, Vision of Poets. Room … for new hearts to come Consummating while they consume.
