consign

What does “consign” mean?

verb.to deliver something to a person's custody, typically in order to be sold.

SAT Usage

This verb is commonly found in contexts related to commerce, trade, or relationships involving responsibility and trust. It emphasizes a formal transfer of control, suggesting a level of authority or obligation, which distinguishes it from similar terms like “deliver,” which may lack the same connotation of ownership or accountability.

Common Confusions

Consign implies a formal transfer of custody and responsibility, while deliver usually suggests merely the act of bringing something to a destination without the same level of accountability or ownership.

Example Sentences

• She consigned all her old letters to the fireplace.

• After much deliberation, she decided to consign her grandmother's antique jewelry to an auction house, hoping to find it a loving new home.

Word Parts: How to Remember “consign”

Break “consign” into its parts: co- (together, with). Knowing roots like these helps you decode unfamiliar SAT vocabulary.

• Prefix: co- together, with (Latin)