consensual (adj.)
1754, "having to do with consent, formed by consent, depending upon consent," from stem of Latin consensus "agreement, accord" (past participle of consentire; see consent (v.)) + -al (1).
Until modern times used almost exclusively with reference to legal contracts and to the eyes working together reflexively; its sense was extended in the language of sociology and psychology from 1950s (of social groups, non-arranged marriages, etc.) and in the legal discussions of rape and other sex crimes by 1977.
Entries linking to consensual
c. 1300, "agree, give assent; yield when one has the right, power, or will to oppose," from Old French consentir "agree; comply" (12c.) and directly from Latin consentire "agree, accord," literally "feel together," from assimilated form of com "with, together" (see con-) + sentire "to feel" (see sense (n.)).
"Feeling together," hence, "agreeing, giving permission," a sense evolution that apparently took place in French before the word reached English. Related: Consented; consenting.
also nonconsensual, "done without consent," by 1945 in legalese, from non- + consensual (q.v.). Used since 1960s by sociologists and in political science; used by 1977 in legal discussions and definitions of rape and other sex crimes and popularized in this sense from c. 1995. An earlier adjective was non-consenting (1670s), which was used of persons, not acts.
updated on March 06, 2018
Dictionary entries near consensual
conscription
consecrate
consecration
consecution
consecutive
consensual
consensus
consent
consenting
consequence
consequences
