Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Consideration \Con*sid`er*a"tion\, n. [L. consideratio: cf. F.
   consid?ration.]
   1. The act or process of considering; continuous careful
      thought; examination; contemplation; deliberation;
      attention.

            Let us think with consideration.      --Sir P.
                                                  Sidney.

            Consideration, like an angel, came.   --Shak.

   2. Attentive respect; appreciative regard; -- used especially
      in diplomatic or stately correspondence.

            The undersigned has the honor to repeat to Mr.
            Hulseman the assurance of his high consideration.
                                                  --D. Webster.

            The consideration with which he was treated.
                                                  --Whewell.

   3. Thoughtful or sympathetic regard or notice.

            Consideration for the poor is a doctrine of the
            church.                               --Newman.

   4. Claim to notice or regard; some degree of importance or
      consequence.

            Lucan is the only author of consideration among the
            Latin poets who was not explained for . . . the
            Dauphin.                              --Addison.

   5. The result of delibration, or of attention and
      examonation; matured opinion; a reflection; as,
      considerations on the choice of a profession.

   6. That which is, or should be, taken into account as a
      ground of opinion or action; motive; reason.

            He was obliged, antecedent to all other
            considerations, to search an asylum.  --Dryden.

            Some considerations which are necessary to the
            forming of a correct judgment.        --Macaulay.

   7. (Law) The cause which moves a contracting party to enter
      into an agreement; the material cause of a contract; the
      price of a stripulation; compensation; equivalent.
      --Bouvier.

   Note: Consideration is what is done, or promised to be done,
         in exchange for a promise, and ``as a mere advantage to
         the promisor without detriment to the promisee would
         not avail, the proper test is detriment to the
         promisee.'' --Wharton.

Source : WordNet®

consideration
     n 1: the process of giving careful thought to something
     2: information that should be kept in mind when making a
        decision; "another consideration is the time it would
        take" [syn: {circumstance}, {condition}]
     3: a discussion of a topic (as in a meeting); "consideration of
        the traffic problem took more than an hour"
     4: kind and considerate regard for others; "he showed no
        consideration for her feelings" [syn: {considerateness}, {thoughtfulness}]
        [ant: {inconsideration}, {inconsideration}]
     5: a fee charged in advance to retain the services of someone
        [syn: {retainer}]
     6: a considerate and thoughtful act [syn: {thoughtfulness}]