consonant

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
consonant /ˈkɒns(ə)nənt/

▶noun a speech sound in which the breath is at least partly obstructed and which can be combined with a vowel to form a syllable.

■ a letter representing a consonant.

▶adjective

• 1 denoting or relating to a consonant.

• 2 (consonant with) in agreement or harmony with.

• 3 Music making a harmonious interval or chord.

– derivatives
consonantal adjective,
consonantly adverb.

– origin ME: via OFr. from L. consonare ‘sound together’, from con- ‘with’ + sonare ‘to sound’ (from sonus ‘sound’).