Consecution

Consecution is a noun that denotes the act or state of being sequential, in a continuous or logically ordered progression. In contemporary English, the term is uncommon, and when it appears it usually refers to a sequence of events, steps, or ideas that follow one after another in a definite order rather than to a single outcome or result.

Etymology and usage notes explain that consecution derives from Latin consecutio, meaning a following or sequence, from consequor “to follow closely.” Through medieval and early modern English, the word entered scholarly discourse more often than everyday speech, but it has since largely fallen out of common use.

In scholarly contexts, consecution may describe the organization or flow of elements within a system, argument, or narrative. It emphasizes the structural or temporal order by which components succeed one another. Because the term is rare, writers typically substitute more common words such as sequence, succession, continuity, or progression, depending on whether the emphasis is on order of events, steps in a process, or logical development.

Limitations and caveats: given its obscurity, consecution can be ambiguous without clear context. Readers should consult the author’s definition when encountered and consider replacing it with more standard terms to ensure clarity. Overall, consecution serves as a historical or specialized label for sequential arrangement rather than as a distinct technical concept in most modern disciplines.