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Glite Dictionary
to consort with

to consort with

12 7.9
Spend time with people others may disapprove of
  • phrasal verb
  • /kənˈsɔrt wɪð/
  • Formal
translation icon : relacionarse con
  • It seems you've been consorting with outlaws.
  • consort with the enemy
  • consorting with armed felons
  • consort with prostitutes

Or what spirit have you invited in and consorted with such that it can possess you?

Examples

  • Consorting with the enemy king.

    Troy (2004)

  • I am accusing you of consorting with an enemy agent behind my back.

    Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (2011)

  • - And why are you consorting with him?

    Bye Bye Birdie (1963)

  • Don't speak or consort with the enemy.

    Two Can Play That Game (2001)

  • You're consorting with the enemy.

    Leap of Faith (1992)

  • You may be inadvertently consorting with the enemy.

    Academic text (2010)

  • He's been consorting with criminals too long.

    Fiction book (1998)

  • Instead of mixing with your own kind, you insist on consorting with your intellectual inferiors.

    Fiction book (1999)

  • Consorting with known criminals.

    Playing God (1997)

  • It's frowned upon to consort with those who do not share our values.

Synonyms

to associate
vsto consort with
222 3.3

To spend time with a particular group of people

is similar but highlights social disapproval or marked distinction
to mingle
vsto consort with
64 3.1

Join and talk with other people at a meeting or party

refers more to regular company that may attract disapproval
to ally
vsto consort with
45 3.6

To join with a person, group, or country for a common purpose

is personal social company often seen as dubious rather than formal alliance
to fraternize
vsto consort with
20 7.7

To be friendly and spend time with people you should avoid, for example enemies

implies disapproved association rather than simple friendliness
to consort
vsto consort with
  • Formal
18 7.5

To spend time with people other people disapprove of

is about disapproved or questionable company rather than neutral company
to affiliate
vsto consort with
12 4.8

To spend time with a group and appear to belong to it

is like close linking but adds a sense of social disapproval
to ally with
vsto consort with
12 4.0

To join with another person or group to work together for the same goal

is social company rather than formal cooperation and may feel disapproved
to hobnob with
vsto consort with
8 8.0

To spend time talking with important or powerful people

is more about joining disapproved company than about status mixing

Antonyms

to stay away from
384 2.3

Avoid going near people or places for safety

How Close

to consort with
  • Formal
12 7.9
to associate
222 3.3
to socialize
  • US
68 2.8

Surface Forms

consort with infinitive
consorted with past
consorted with past participle
consorting with present participle
consorts with third person singular

Morphology

consort + with

The meaning is directly compositional: 'consort' = to keep company (often with disapproved persons) and 'with' marks association, so a learner who knows both constituents can infer 'to associate or keep company with someone'. The negative or disapproving nuance is already part of 'consort' and the verb + preposition pattern is a common, predictable construction.

Etymology

Consort with comes from the old word consort, which meant a companion or a small group of people who stick together. One popular story says this picture of people standing together gave the phrase its meaning, so today consort with means to spend time or 'keep company' with someone, often when others disapprove.