Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Consist \Con*sist"\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Consisted}; p. pr. &
   vb. n. {Consisting}.] [L. consistere to stand still or firm;
   con- + sistere to stand, cause to stand, stare to stand: cf.
   F. consister. See {Stand}.]
   1. To stand firm; to be in a fixed or permanent state, as a
      body composed of parts in union or connection; to hold
      together; to be; to exist; to subsist; to be supported and
      maintained.

            He is before all things, and by him all things
            consist.                              --Col. i. 17.

   2. To be composed or made up; -- followed by of.

            The land would consist of plains and valleys. --T.
                                                  Burnet.

   3. To have as its substance or character, or as its
      foundation; to be; -- followed by in.

            If their purgation did consist in words. --Shak.

            A man's life consisteth not in the abudance of the
            things which he possesseth.           --Luke xii.
                                                  15.

   4. To be consistent or harmonious; to be in accordance; --
      formerly used absolutely, now followed by with.

            This was a consisting story.          --Bp. Burnet.

            Health consists with temperance alone. --Pope.

            For orders and degrees Jar not with liberty, but
            well consist.                         --Milton.

   5. To insist; -- followed by on. [Obs.] --Shak.

   Syn: {To Consist}, {Consist of}, {Consist in}.

   Usage: The verb consist is employed chiefly for two purposes,
          which are marked and distinguished by the prepositions
          used. When we wish to indicate the parts which unite
          to compose a thing, we use of; as when we say,
          ``Macaulay's Miscellanies consist chiefly of articles
          which were first published in the Edinburgh Review.''
          When we wish to indicate the true nature of a thing,
          or that on which it depends, we use in; as, ``There
          are some artists whose skill consists in a certain
          manner which they have affected.'' ``Our safety
          consists in a strict adherence to duty.''

Source : WordNet®

consist
     v 1: originate (in); "The problems dwell in the social injustices
          in this country" [syn: {dwell}, {lie}, {belong}, {lie in}]
     2: have its essential character; be comprised or contained in;
        be embodied in; "The payment consists in food"; "What does
        love consist in?"
     3: be consistent in form, tenor, or character; be congruous;
        "Desires are to be satisfied only so far as consists with
        an approved end"
     4: be composed of; "The land he conquered comprised several
        provinces"; "What does this dish consist of?" [syn: {comprise}]