Act of consummation
/ækt əv kənˈsʌməˌteɪʃən/
The act of consummation is the final step that completes a marriage through sexual intercourse or finalizes a legal or financial agreement.
Examples
- The priest explained that the act of consummation was a sacred part of the union.
- Scholars debate the relevance of the act of consummation in modern marriage law.
- The board approved the transaction, and the act of consummation followed the next day.
- The acquisition was not official until the act of consummation was completed.
- The contract required the act of consummation to occur within 30 days.
Meanings
Derived from consummare, meaning 'to complete' or 'to bring to an end'. In medieval European law and Christian doctrine, a marriage was not fully valid until it was consummated, giving the term its specific association with marital sex.
Examples
- The annulment was granted because the act of consummation never occurred.
- In some historical legal systems, the act of consummation determined the legitimacy of a marriage.
- They kept their marriage private, and the act of consummation took place on their honeymoon.
- The priest explained that the act of consummation was a sacred part of the union.
- Scholars debate the relevance of the act of consummation in modern marriage law.
The broader sense of 'finalizing' something comes from the same root as the marital meaning. In law and business, 'consummation' evolved to mean the point at which a deal becomes binding, such as the exchange of funds or signing of documents.
Examples
- The merger was finalized after the act of consummation was recorded.
- The contract required the act of consummation to occur within 30 days.
- They waited anxiously for the act of consummation of the real estate deal.
- The acquisition was not official until the act of consummation was completed.
- The board approved the transaction, and the act of consummation followed the next day.