I. con ‧ sent 1 W3 AC /kənˈsent/ BrE AmE noun [uncountable]
[ Word Family: verb : ↑ consent ; noun : ↑ consent ; adjective : ↑ consensual ]
1 . permission to do something:
He took the car without the owner’s consent.
Her parents gave their consent to the marriage.
A patient can refuse consent for a particular treatment at any time.
Most owners are happy to have their names used for publicity if this is done with their prior consent.
Informed consent was obtained from all participants before the study began.
⇨ ↑ age of consent
2 . agreement about something ⇨ dissent :
The chairman was elected by common consent (=with most people agreeing) .
divorce by mutual consent (=by agreement between both the people involved)
• • •
COLLOCATIONS
■ verbs
▪ give (somebody) your consent
The child’s parents have to give their consent to the operation.
▪ have sb’s consent
He claimed to have the consent of the car’s owner.
▪ get sb’s consent ( also obtain sb’s consent formal )
Your solicitor will need to obtain your signed consent.
▪ something requires sb’s consent
Your consent is required before we can apply for a medical report.
▪ grant consent formal (=give it formally)
The local council was prepared to grant consent to the project.
▪ refuse (your) consent
When the firm applied for consent to build on the site, it was refused.
▪ withhold (your) consent (=not give it)
A patient has the right to withhold consent to treatment.
■ adjectives
▪ written consent
If you are under 18, you need your parents’ written consent to get married.
▪ verbal consent (=spoken consent)
He gave his verbal consent to have the interview taped.
▪ parental consent (=from someone’s parents)
Students may not be absent from school without parental consent.
▪ sb’s prior consent (=consent before you do something)
Do not take photographs of people without obtaining their prior consent.
▪ informed consent (=based on full information about what will happen)
The men took part in this study after giving informed consent.
▪ express consent (=consent that is given in a verbal or written way, and not consent that you assume someone gives)
Your medical records will only be released with your express consent.
▪ tacit consent (=one that is not given verbally or in writing, but that you feel someone has given)
If you continue to live in a particular state when it is possible to leave, this implies tacit consent to that state’s political system.
▪ planning consent British English (=consent to build a new building or change an old one)
You will need to apply for planning consent.
■ phrases
▪ the age of consent (=the age at which someone can legally marry or have sex)
She was fifteen, under the age of consent, when she became pregnant.
II. consent 2 AC BrE AmE verb [intransitive]
[ Word Family: verb : ↑ consent ; noun : ↑ consent ; adjective : ↑ consensual ]
[ Date: 1200-1300 ; Language: Latin ; Origin: consentire , from com- ( ⇨ COM- ) + sentire 'to feel' ]
to give your permission for something or agree to do something OPP refuse
consent to
Her father reluctantly consented to the marriage.
consent to do something
He rarely consents to do interviews.