consign

American  

[kuhn-sahyn] / kənˈsaɪn /

verb (used with object)

1. to hand over or deliver formally or officially; commit (often followed byto ).

   Synonyms:

   assign, relegate

2. to transfer to another's custody or charge; entrust.

   Synonyms:

   confide

3. to set apart for or devote to (a special purpose or use).

   to consign two afternoons a week to the club.

4. to banish or set apart in one's mind; relegate.

   to consign unpleasant thoughts to oblivion.

5. Commerce.

   1. to ship, as by common carrier, especially for sale or custody.

   2. to address for such shipment.

6. Obsolete. to confirm or ratify, as with a seal or other token.

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verb (used without object)

1. to agree or assent.

2. Obsolete. to yield or submit.

consign British  

/ kənˈsaɪn /

verb

1. to hand over or give into the care or charge of another; entrust

2. to commit irrevocably

   he consigned the papers to the flames

3. to commit for admittance

   to consign someone to jail

4. to address or deliver (goods) for sale, disposal, etc

   it was consigned to his London address

5. obsolete (intr) to assent; agree

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Other Word Forms

• consignable adjective
• consignation noun
• preconsign verb (used with object)
• reconsign verb (used with object)
• unconsignable adjective
• unconsigned adjective

Etymology

Origin of consign

1400–50; late Middle English; apparently (< Middle French consigner ) < Medieval Latin consignāre to mark with sign of cross, Latin: to mark with a seal. See con-, sign

Example Sentences

He knew that his readers would decide whether his writing would be consigned to oblivion or not.

From The Wall Street Journal

From 1 January, this centuries-old verdict has been consigned to the history books and Scottish trials will end with the accused being found either guilty or not guilty.

From BBC

No wonder Dante, the Florence-born author of the “Divine Comedy,” consigned counterfeiters to the eighth circle of hell, “just one rung higher than Lucifer in the ninth.”

From The Wall Street Journal

Mohamed Salah has been under scrutiny for his poor form this season - and was consigned to the substitutes' bench for the second successive Premier League game as Sunderland visited on Wednesday.

From BBC

The veteran consigned Crawley to a pair, diving to his left in an incredible feat of athleticism for a memorable caught-and-bowled.

From Barron's

Related Words

• assign
• relegate
• turn over