ensue

From Old French ensu-,[1] stem of some conjugated forms of ensivre (“follow close upon, come afterward”) (French ensuivre), from Latin īnsequere, from īnsequi (“to pursue, follow, follow after; come next”), from in- (“upon”) (see in-) + sequi (“follow”) (see sequel).

• (US) IPA^(key): /ɪnˈsuː/
• (UK) IPA^(key): /ɪnˈsjuː/, /ɪnˈʃuː/, /ɛnˈsjuː/, /ɛnˈʃuː/
• (General Australian) IPA^(key): /ɛnˈsjʉː/

• Audio (Southern England)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -uː

ensue (third-person singular simple present ensues, present participle ensuing, simple past and past participle ensued)

1. (obsolete, transitive) To follow (a leader, inclination etc.). [15th–17th c.]
   • 1596, Edmund Spenser, The Faerie Queene, IV.ii:

     to ripenesse of mans state they grew: / Then shewing forth signes of their fathers blood, / They loued armes, and knighthood did ensew, / Seeking aduentures [...].

   • 1606, G. W. Justine, transl., The Historie of Justine:

     To ensue his example in doynge the like mischiefe.

2. (obsolete, transitive) To follow (in time), to be subsequent to. [15th–17th c.]
   • 1603, Michel de Montaigne, translated by John Florio, Essays, III.11:

     Oh how many changes are like to ensue this reformation!

3. (intransitive) To occur afterwards, as a result or effect. [from 16th c.]

   Give three freshmen six bottles of wine, and hilarity will ensue.

   • 1593, anonymous author, The Life and Death of Iacke Straw […], Act I:

     After ſo bad a beginning, whats like to inſue?

   • 1960 December, “Talking of Trains: The riding of B.R. coaches”, in Trains Illustrated, page 705:

     Nor, having married coach and bogie design successfully, does it follow that good riding will ensue, whatever the track carrying it—as the performance of B.R. standard coaches on flat-bottom, concrete-sleepered track bears witness.

• (to follow): carry out, follow, pursue
• (to be subsequent to): come after, follow; see also Thesaurus:succeed
• (to occur afterwards): arise, follow

• seuen, unsee