coherence

from WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006)

coherence
    n 1: the state of cohering or sticking together [syn:
         {coherence}, {coherency}, {cohesion}, {cohesiveness}] [ant:
         {incoherence}, {incoherency}]
    2: logical and orderly and consistent relation of parts [syn:
       {coherence}, {coherency}]

from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

Coherence \Co*her"ence\, Coherency \Co*her"en*cy\, n. [L.
   cohaerentia: cf. F. coh['e]rence.]
   1. A sticking or cleaving together; union of parts of the
      same body; cohesion.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. Connection or dependence, proceeding from the
      subordination of the parts of a thing to one principle or
      purpose, as in the parts of a discourse, or of a system of
      philosophy; a logical and orderly and consistent relation
      of parts; consecutiveness.
      [1913 Webster]

            Coherence of discourse, and a direct tendency of all
            the parts of it to the argument in hand, are most
            eminently to be found in him.         --Locke.
      [1913 Webster]

   3. the state of cohering.

   Syn: cohesion, cohesiveness.
        [WordNet 1.5]

103 Moby Thesaurus words for "coherence": accord, accordance, accretion, adherence, adhesion, affinity, agglomeration, agglutination, agreement, assent, bond, chorus, clarity, clear-cutness, clearness, cling, clinging, clotting, clustering, coagulation, cohesion, cohesiveness, coincidence, compaction, compatibility, concert, concord, concordance, concretion, condensation, conformance, conformation, conformity, congealment, congelation, congeniality, conglobation, conglomeration, congruence, congruency, congruity, connectedness, consistency, consolidation, consonance, consort, cooperation, correspondence, crystallinity, definition, directness, distinctness, equivalence, explicitness, harmony, impartibility, indiscerptibility, indissolubility, indivisibility, infrangibility, infusibility, inseparability, insolubility, integrity, intersection, junction, limpidity, lucidity, oneness, overlap, parallelism, peace, pellucidity, perspicuity, plain English, plain speech, plain style, plainness, rapport, self-consistency, set, simplicity, solidarity, solidification, sticking, straightforwardness, structure, symmetry, sync, synchronism, tally, timing, transparency, transpicuity, unadorned style, unambiguousness, unequivocalness, uniformity, union, unison, unisonance, unity, unmistakableness