Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Consideration?

\Con*sid`er*a"tion\, n. [L. consideratio: cf. F. consid?ration.] 1. The act or process of considering; continuous careful thought; examination; contemplation; deliberation; attention. Let us think with consideration. --Sir P. Sidney. Consideration, like an angel, came. --Shak. 2. Attentive respect; appreciative regard; -- used especially in diplomatic or stately correspondence. The undersigned has the honor to repeat to Mr. Hulseman the assurance of his high consideration. --D. Webster. The consideration with which he was treated. --Whewell. 3. Thoughtful or sympathetic regard or notice. Consideration for the poor is a doctrine of the church. --Newman. 4. Claim to notice or regard; some degree of importance or consequence. Lucan is the only author of consideration among the Latin poets who was not explained for . . . the Dauphin. --Addison. 5. The result of delibration, or of attention and examonation; matured opinion; a reflection; as, considerations on the choice of a profession. 6. That which is, or should be, taken into account as a ground of opinion or action; motive; reason. He was obliged, antecedent to all other considerations, to search an asylum. --Dryden. Some considerations which are necessary to the forming of a correct judgment. --Macaulay. 7. (Law) The cause which moves a contracting party to enter into an agreement; the material cause of a contract; the price of a stripulation; compensation; equivalent. --Bouvier. Note: Consideration is what is done, or promised to be done, in exchange for a promise, and ``as a mere advantage to the promisor without detriment to the promisee would not avail, the proper test is detriment to the promisee.'' --Wharton.