consign

[ kuhn-sahyn ]

verb (used with object)

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

   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.

verb (used without object)

1. to agree or assent.
2. Obsolete. to yield or submit.

consign

/ 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

Derived Forms

• ˌconsignˈation, noun
• conˈsignable, adjective

Other Words From

• con·signa·ble adjective
• con·sig·na·tion [kon-sig-, ney, -sh, uh, n], noun
• precon·sign verb (used with object)
• recon·sign verb (used with object)
• uncon·signa·ble adjective
• uncon·signed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of consign¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of consign¹

C15: from Old French consigner, from Latin consignāre to put one's seal to, sign, from signum mark, sign

Example Sentences

In a rational world, this idea would have been consigned to the dumpster long ago, and forever.

From Los Angeles Times

The turning of the scrum screw late on switched the teams’ tracks in the 2023 semi-final, consigning England to defeat and advancing South Africa to the final.

From BBC

But it could soon be consigned to history.

From BBC

The tradition has carried on ever since, though the silk has been consigned to history.

From BBC

Permission that the last Trump administration granted some states to impose work requirements for Medicaid was overturned by a federal judge in 2019; the Biden White House consigned the idea to the dumpster.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• assign
• relegate
• turn over