ensue
- 1To occur afterward as a result or effect of something that came before.
A bitter argument ensued once the inheritance was announced.
Long delays inevitably ensue when too many approvals are required.
Similarfollow, result, arise, develop, erupt
Oppositeprecede
Note
Of the three senses, only this one is still in everyday use, and it never takes an object: something happens, and something else ensues. It is already there in The Life and Death of Iacke Straw (1593), "what's like to ensue?" "Hilarity will ensue" shows its favorite position, at the end of a clause after the cause. For a plain sequence with no consequence, follow is the better word.
- 2To come after another event in time; to be the period or event that follows it.
A decade of peace ensued the treaty signed at the border.
Oh how many changes are like to ensue this reformation!
1603, Michel de Montaigne, EssaysNote
Here the verb takes a direct object, the way follow does: one event ensues another. John Florio's 1603 translation of Montaigne's Essays still writes "how many changes are like to ensue this reformation!" The construction is obsolete. Modern English lets the "happen as a result" meaning stand alone (silence ensued) and uses follow when the earlier event must be named. The object echoes Latin insequi, "to follow after."
- 3To go after and follow a leader, an example, or one's own inclination.
The faithful ensued their teacher from one town to the next.
To ensue his example in doynge the like mischiefe.
1606, G. W. Justine, The Historie of JustineNote
Here the word still carries its Latin sense of pursuit. It comes through Old French ensuivre from Latin insequi, "to pursue, follow after," built on sequi, the root of sequel. What is followed is the direct object: Spenser's young knights "knighthood did ensew," and G. W.'s Historie of Justine (1606) speaks of ensuing an example. The use is obsolete, and in modern prose follow or pursue does this work.
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Origin
From Old French ensu-, a stem of ensuivre ("follow close upon, come afterward"), from Latin īnsequi ("to pursue, follow, come next"), formed from in- ("upon") plus sequi ("to follow").