consequential

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The Word of the Day for August 23 is:

consequential   \kahn-suh-KWEN-shul\   adjective
     1 : of the nature of a secondary result : indirect
     2 : following as a result or effect : consequent
    *3 : having significant consequences : important

Example sentence:
     Who would have thought stepping off the elevator on the wrong floor that 
day would be such a consequential moment in Wayne's life?

Did you know?
     "Consequential" dates from the 17th century and can be traced back to the 
Latin verb "consequi," meaning "to follow along." "Consequi," in turn, combines 
the prefix "con-," meaning "through" or "with," and "sequi," meaning "to 
follow." The English words "sequel," "second," and "suitor" are among the 
offspring of "sequi." With the publication of Henry Fielding's 1728 comedy 
_Love in Several Masques_, 
"consequential," which until that point had been used primarily in the context 
of results, acquired the meaning "important." Evidence for this usage declined 
temporarily in the 19th century, causing its acceptability to be questioned by 
such commentators as H. W. Fowler; it resurfaced in the 20th century, however, 
and is now considered standard.

*Indicates the sense illustrated in the example sentence.







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