consécutive

Consécutive is the feminine form of the French adjective consécutif. It designates something that follows immediately in a sequence, with no interruption. The masculine form is consécutif and the adverb is consécutivement.

Etymology: It derives from Latin consecutus, from sequi, to follow.

Usage in mathematics: In number theory, two integers are consécutifs if they differ by exactly one. For example, 3 and 4 are consécutifs, as are 7, 8, and 9 in a sequence of consecutive integers.

Other domains: In everyday language, days or events that occur in succession are described as consécutifs or consécutives: des jours consécutifs, des semaines consécutives. The term is commonly used to indicate no gaps between items in a sequence, whether numbers, days, or events.

Legal usage: In criminal law, peines consécutives denote sentences served one after another, while peines concurrentes denote sentences served at the same time. The distinction affects total time to be served.

Notes: The term is often used interchangeably with successif in some contexts, though consécutif emphasizes immediate succession. The adverb form consécutivement is used to describe actions that happen in a consecutive, uninterrupted order.