consummation

English

Etymology

From Latin cōnsummātiō.

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -eɪʃən

Noun

consummation (countable and uncountable, plural consummations)

1. The act of consummating, or the state of being consummated; the state of being completed; completion.
   • 1861, E. J. Guerin, Mountain Charley, page 42:

     I emptied my revolver upon him as he lay, and should have done the same with its mate had not two hunters at that moment come upon the ground and prevented any further consummation of my designs.

   • 1944 May and June, “Notes and News: The Eastern Counties Railway”, in Railway Magazine, page 182:

     The opening of the extension from Brentwood to Colchester took place on March 29, 1843, when it was reported that at Colchester "the town had literally turned out its population to witness the consummation of the hopes and the fears of alike friends and opponents."

   • 2022 October 6, Sam Bright, “Meet the Shadowy Groups Behind Liz Truss”, in The New York Times‎^[1], →ISSN:

     It was the consummation of plans designed on Tufton Street, and of an alliance with Ms. Truss stretching back years. Under her watch, Britain has become a libertarian laboratory.

2. The first act of sexual intercourse in a relationship, particularly the first such act following marriage.
   • 1920, B. G. Jefferis, J. L. Nichols, “The Advantages of Wedlock”, in Searchlights on Health‎^[2]:

     The consummation of marriage involves the mightiest issues of life and is the most holy and sacred right recognized by man, and it is the Balm of Gilead for many ills. Masturbation or prostitution soon blight the brightest prospects a young man may have.

3. The achievement of perfection.
   • 1837, L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], “The Influence of the Dead”, in Ethel Churchill: Or, The Two Brides. […], volume II, London: Henry Colburn, […], →OCLC, page 271:

     He had no vague false notions of beginning fires in November, and ending them in May; but had arrived at the philosophical conclusion, that there are very few evenings, in all the year, that a fire is not a consummation of domestic felicity in England most devoutly to be wished.

4. Termination; the end (as of the world or of life); an end or resulting state.
   • 1749, The New Testament of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.  […] Newly reviſed, and corrected according to the Clementin Edition of the Scriptures (Douay–Rheims Bible, Challoner Revision), Matthew 28:20:

     Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and behold I am with you all days, even to the consummation of the world.

   • 1880, William Blades, The Enemies of Books, page 87:

     It may be supposed that from the spread of information all real danger from ignorance is past. Not so, good reader, that is a consummation as yet "devoutly to be wished."

5. (law) The date at which the mortgagor becomes contractually obligated to the mortgagee in a real estate transaction.

Related terms

• consummate
• consummator

Translations

The act of consummating

• Bulgarian: завършване (bg) n (zavǎršvane), осъществяване (bg) (osǎštestvjavane)
• German: Vollendung (de) f
• Portuguese: consumação f

The first act of sexual intercourse

• Bulgarian: консумиране (bg) n (konsumirane)
• Indonesian: konsumasi
• Telugu: శోభనము (te) (śōbhanamu)
• Turkish: gerdek (tr)

The achievement of perfection

• Bulgarian: съвършенство (bg) n (sǎvǎršenstvo)