consummation
noun
Consummation — the act of bringing something fully to its intended completion
Definition
The act of bringing to completion or fruition
In depth
Consummation is the act of bringing something to completion or fruition, the final, decisive act that fulfills a long process, agreement, or desire. The word carries particular weight in legal and marital contexts, where it specifically names the sexual completion of a marriage, but its broader sense applies to any undertaking finally brought to its fullest, intended conclusion.
Origin
The word descends from Latin consummare, to sum up or complete, formed from con- (together) and summa (sum or total) — etymologically, to consummate something is to bring its parts together into a final total. That image of summation, of all prior parts finally adding up to a complete whole, underlies the word's enduring sense of decisive, fulfilling completion.
Usage examples
"The treaty's consummation, after years of careful negotiation, was marked by a quiet but historic signing ceremony."
"Their marriage's consummation, under the legal customs of the time, carried significant inheritance implications."
"The novel builds steadily toward the consummation of its central character's long-deferred ambition."
How to use it
Consummation carries formal, often legal or literary weight, suited to writing about the completion of significant undertakings, agreements, or relationships. Its specific marital and sexual sense requires careful, context-appropriate handling.
Related concepts
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