Emily Dickinson Lexicon

CON-SIST'ENCE, or CON-SIST'EN-CY, n.

1. A standing together; a being fixed in union, as the parts of a body, that state of a body, in which its component parts remained fixed. The consistency of bodies is divers; dense, rare, tangible, pneumatical, volatile, &c. – Bacon.
2. A degree of density or spissitude, but indefinite. Let the juices or liquor be boiled into the consistency of sirup. – Arbuthnot.
3. Substance; make; firmness of constitution; as, friendship of a lasting consistency; resolutions of durable consistence. – South. Hammond.
4. A standing together, as the parts of a system, or of conduct, &c.; agreement or harmony of all parts of a complex thing among themselves, or of the same thing with itself at different times; congruity; uniformity; as, the consistency of laws, regulations or judicial decisions; consistency of opinions; consistency of behavior or of character. There is harmony and consistency in all God's works. – J. Lathrop.
5. A standing; a state of rest, in which things capable of growth or decrease, remain for a time in a stand. – Chambers.