a crisis of staggering consequence

[lkjhg811]

An unarmed RAF surveillance aircraft, operating in international airspace over the Black Sea, was fired on by an incompetent – or deranged – Russian pilot. The first missile failed to achieve target lock; the second fell harmlessly into the sea.

If either missile had worked as intended, we would have entered a crisis of staggering consequence. It is no exaggeration to say that it could easily have started World War Three;

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Source: The Telegraph | Russia’s incompetent air force is one mistake away from sparking war with Nato

Does "consequence" mean "importance" or does it mean "result"?

 

[PaulQ]

It is much closer in meaning to "result".

 

[lkjhg811]

Does "a crisis of staggering consequence" mean that the crisis brings that staggering consequence?

 

[JulianStuart]

Yes. There are many ways to express this "cause and effect" meaning

con•se•quence /ˈkɑnsɪˌkwɛns, -kwəns/ n. the effect, result, or outcome of something occurring earlier:[countable]What will be the consequences of threatening him with military intervention?

 

[lkjhg811]

When the word consequence is used with the meaning of "result", it is countable.

However, "consequence" is uncountable, so it have to mean "importance", not result.
What do you say?

 

[JulianStuart]

When the word consequence is used with the meaning of "result", it is countable.

However, "consequence" is uncountable, so it have to mean "importance", not result.
What do you say?

I think you will probably agree that in this context, it has parts of both definitions

 

[lingobingo]

I agree that of great consequence means hugely significant. Had things turned out otherwise, the (countable) consequences could have been catastrophic.