Consisting

Part of speech: verb

Pronunciation: /kənˈsɪstɪŋ/

Definitions

1. Composed of particular elements that together create a unified whole
2. Made up of distinct parts that collectively establish a single entity
3. Having various components or elements that form a unified entity

Etymology: "Consisting" is simply the present participle of "consist," so its history is that of the verb. "Consist" came into English from Middle French "consister," which in turn descends from the Latin "consistere," a compound of "com-" meaning "together" and "sistere," meaning "to cause to stand" or "stand." The Latin verb was a versatile one: it could mean to stop or halt, to become firm or solid, to agree with something, or simply to continue and exist. The English verb keeps a trace of that core picture of things standing together. To consist of several parts is to have those parts stand side by side and hold together as one whole, so a thing that is "consisting of" its components is literally standing together out of them. The word is a good example of how a physical image of standing firm can end up describing the way an abstract whole is put together.

Synonyms: comprising, including