The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Consideration \Con*sid`er*a"tion\
   (k[o^]n*s[i^]d`[~e]r*[=a]"sh[u^]n), n. [L. consideratio: cf.
   F. consid['e]ration.]
   1. The act or process of considering; continuous careful
      thought; examination; contemplation; deliberation;
      attention.
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            Let us think with consideration.      --Sir P.
                                                  Sidney.
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            Consideration, like an angel, came.   --Shak.
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   2. Attentive respect; appreciative regard; -- used especially
      in diplomatic or stately correspondence.
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            The undersigned has the honor to repeat to Mr.
            Hulseman the assurance of his high consideration.
                                                  --D. Webster.
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            The consideration with which he was treated.
                                                  --Whewell.
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   3. Thoughtful or sympathetic regard or notice.
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            Consideration for the poor is a doctrine of the
            church.                               --Newman.
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   4. Claim to notice or regard; some degree of importance or
      consequence.
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            Lucan is the only author of consideration among the
            Latin poets who was not explained for . . . the
            Dauphin.                              --Addison.
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   5. The result of delibration, or of attention and
      examonation; matured opinion; a reflection; as,
      considerations on the choice of a profession.
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   6. That which is, or should be, taken into account as a
      ground of opinion or action; motive; reason.
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            He was obliged, antecedent to all other
            considerations, to search an asylum.  --Dryden.
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            Some considerations which are necessary to the
            forming of a correct judgment.        --Macaulay.
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   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.
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   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.
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WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

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, consideration]
    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: consideration,
       considerateness, thoughtfulness] [ant:
       inconsiderateness, inconsideration, thoughtlessness]
    5: a fee charged in advance to retain the services of someone
       [syn: retainer, consideration]
    6: a considerate and thoughtful act [syn: consideration,
       thoughtfulness]