consort
/ˈkɒnsɔːt/ (bre, ipa) · [kənsˈɔrt] /ˈkɑːnsɔːrt/ (ame, ipa) · [kənsˈɔrt] /ˈkän-ˌsȯrt How to pronounce consort (audio)/ (ame, mw) · /kənˈsɔːt/ (bre, ipa) · [kənsˈɔrt] /kənˈsɔːrt/ (ame, ipa)
consort — noun
- consortsingular
- consortsplural
1. the person married to a monarch or another ruler, used especially in formal or h
the person married to a monarch or another ruler, used especially in formal or historical contexts
After the coronation, Queen Mira introduced her consort to foreign guests.
royal title: a ruler's husband or wife
Newspapers said the young consort rarely spoke during state visits.
In the museum, Devika read letters written by the prince consort.
The king's consort opened the children's hospital in the capital.
Historians still debate how much power the queen consort really had.
- spouse
broader and more neutral, used for any married partner rather than only royalty
- queen consort
specific to the wife of a king
- prince consort
specific to the husband of a queen
文法句型
a consort
the queen's consort
prince consort
用法筆記
This sense is mainly used for royalty or other rulers, not for ordinary married couples. In everyday situations, 'husband', 'wife', or 'spouse' is much more natural.
常見錯誤
2. players performing together, or a matched set of instruments from the same famil
players performing together, or a matched set of instruments from the same family
The recorder consort played dance music in the stone hall.
music group: players performing together
Wei tuned the flute consort before the audience entered.
instrument family: a consort of flutes
The museum owns a consort of wooden flutes from Korea.
During the festival, a small consort performed beside the fountain.
Their teacher formed a consort of flutes for the early music class.
文法句型
a recorder consort
a consort of viols
form a consort
用法筆記
This sense belongs mainly to music history and early-music performance. For most modern groups, learners will more often hear 'ensemble', 'band', or 'orchestra'.
常見錯誤
consort — verb
- consortpresent simple I / you / we / they
- consorts3rd person singular
- consorting-ing form
- consortedpast simple
1. to mix regularly with a person or group, especially one seen as a bad influence
to mix regularly with a person or group, especially one seen as a bad influence
The senator denied consorting with the gang after midnight.
verb pattern: consort with + group
Femi warned his son not to consort with violent men.
Neighbors whispered that Quinn had begun to consort with smugglers.
The prince was forbidden to consort with rebels at court.
Teachers worried when Michael started to consort with older thieves.
- associate with
formal and often neutral, though context can make it negative
- mix with
broader and more everyday, without the same strong moral warning
- keep company with
close in meaning and also somewhat old-fashioned
文法句型
consort with someone
consort with criminals
consort with rebels
用法筆記
This verb usually appears with 'with' and often suggests that the people involved are dangerous, dishonest, or socially disapproved of. It is much more formal than everyday verbs such as 'hang out with'.
常見錯誤
2. to match, sound right together, or exist in harmony with something else
to match, sound right together, or exist in harmony with something else
Dark wood tables consort well with the pale stone floor.
adverb pattern: consort well with
In her song, drums consort with the flute beautifully.
things sounding harmonious together
These soft colors consort better with white walls than black ones.
At dinner, spicy beans did not consort with the sweet sauce.
At the funeral, bright jokes could not consort with the silent room.
文法句型
consort with something
consort well with something
consort ill with something
用法筆記
This sense is literary and often appears with 'with' plus an adverb such as 'well' or 'ill'. Use it when two things fit together in style, sound, or mood, not when people are simply spending time together.