consonant

Etymology

From Middle English consonant or consonaunt, from Old French consonant, from Latin cōnsonāns (“sounding with”), from the prefix con- (“with”) + the present participle sonāns (“sounding”), from sonāre (“to sound”). The Latin is a calque of Ancient Greek σύμφωνον (súmphōnon).

noun

1. (phonetics) A sound that results from the passage of air through restrictions of the oral cavity; any sound that is not the dominant sound of a syllable, the dominant sound generally being a vowel.
2. A letter representing the sound of a consonant.

adj

1. consistent, harmonious, compatible, or in agreement
   Each one pretends that his opinion […] is consonant to the words there used. 1710, William Beveridge, The true nature of the Christian church, the office of its ministers, and the means of grace administred by them explain'd. In twelve sermons
   Cheerfulness, even gaiety, is consonant with every species of virtue and practice of religion, and I think it inconsistent only with impiety and vice. 1900, Sabine Baring-Gould, “The Rev. Mr. Carter, Parson-Publican”, in Yorkshire Oddities, Incidents and Strange Events
   This essential right of the courts to be free of intimidation and coercion was held to be consonant with a recognition that freedom of the press must be allowed in the broadest scope compatible with the supremacy of order. 1946, United States Supreme Court, Pennekamp v. Florida 328 U.S. 331,334
2. Having the same sound.
   1645-1650, James Howell, Epistolae Ho-Elianae consonant words and syllables
3. (music) Harmonizing together; accordant.
   consonant tones; consonant chords
4. Of or relating to consonants; made up of, or containing many, consonants.
   No Russian whose dissonant consonant name / Almost shatters to fragments the trumpet of fame. 1813, Thomas Moore, Intercepted Letters, or the Two-Penny Post-Bag