He is before all things, and by him all things
consist. --Col. i. 17.
2. To be composed or made up; -- followed by of.
The land would consist of plains and valleys. --T.
Burnet.
3. To have as its substance or character, or as its
foundation; to be; -- followed by in.
If their purgation did consist in words. --Shak.
A man's life consisteth not in the abudance of the
things which he possesseth. --Luke xii.
15.
4. To be consistent or harmonious; to be in accordance; --
formerly used absolutely, now followed by with.
This was a consisting story. --Bp. Burnet.
Health consists with temperance alone. --Pope.
For orders and degrees Jar not with liberty, but
well consist. --Milton.
5. To insist; -- followed by on. [Obs.] --Shak.
Syn: {To Consist}, {Consist of}, {Consist in}.
Usage: The verb consist is employed chiefly for two purposes,
which are marked and distinguished by the prepositions
used. When we wish to indicate the parts which unite
to compose a thing, we use of; as when we say,
``Macaulay's Miscellanies consist chiefly of articles
which were first published in the Edinburgh Review.''
When we wish to indicate the true nature of a thing,
or that on which it depends, we use in; as, ``There
are some artists whose skill consists in a certain
manner which they have affected.'' ``Our safety
consists in a strict adherence to duty.''