Definition of "consonant"

Thus, when he drew up instructions in lawyer language, he expressed the important words by an initial, a medial, or a final consonant, and made scratches for all the words between; his clerks, however, understood him very well.

1892, Walter Besant, “Prologue: Who is Edmund Gray?”, in The Ivory Gate […], New York, N.Y.: Harper & Brothers, […]

“Tell me, has right anything to do with the law?” I asked. “You have used the wrong initial consonant,” he smiled in answer. “Might?” I queried; and he nodded his head.

1908, Jack London, chapter 4, in The Iron Heel‎, New York: The Macmillan Company

Each one pretends that his opinion […] is consonant to the words there used.

1710, William Beveridge, The true nature of the Christian church, the office of its ministers, and the means of grace administred by them explain'd. In twelve sermons

Cheerfulness, even gaiety, is consonant with every species of virtue and practice of religion, and I think it inconsistent only with impiety and vice.

1900, Sabine Baring-Gould, “The Rev. Mr. Carter, Parson-Publican”, in Yorkshire Oddities, Incidents and Strange Events

This essential right of the courts to be free of intimidation and coercion was held to be consonant with a recognition that freedom of the press must be allowed in the broadest scope compatible with the supremacy of order.

1946, United States Supreme Court, Pennekamp v. Florida 328 U.S. 331,334

consonant words and syllables

1645-1650, James Howell, Epistolae Ho-Elianae

No Russian whose dissonant consonant name / Almost shatters to fragments the trumpet of fame.

1813, Thomas Moore, Intercepted Letters, or the Two-Penny Post-Bag