Emily Dickinson Lexicon

CON'SE-QUENCE, n. [L. consequentia, from consequor; con and sequor, to follow. See Seek.]

1. That which follows from any act, cause, principle, or series of actions. Hence, an event or effect produced by some preceding act or cause. Shun the bitter consequence; for know, / The day thou eatest thereof, thou shalt die. – Milton. The consequences of intemperance are disgrace, poverty, disease, and premature death.
2. In logic, a proposition collected from the agreement of other previous propositions; the conclusion which results from reason or argument; inference; deduction. Every rational being is accountable to his Maker; man is a rational being; the consequence then must be, that man is accountable to his Maker. From this train of argument, the consequence is obvious.
3. Connection of cause and effect; consecution. I felt / That I must after thee, with this my son; / Such fatal consequence unites us three. – Milton.
4. Influence; tendency, as to effects. The sense of consequence, in this use, is modified by the words connected with it; as, “it is of little consequence,” that is, of little importance, small effects will follow; “it is of no consequence,” of no moment, no effect of importance will follow; “it is of great consequence,” of great importance, great effects will follow.
5. Importance; extensive influence; distinction; as, a man of great consequence in society. In consequence, by means of; as the effect of.