Chapter XCVI: Conclusion: Con*clu"sion, n. Etym: F., fr. L. conclusio. See Conclude (5)

1. The quality or state of being constitutional, or inherent in the natural frame.

2. The state of being consistent with the constitution or frame of government, or of being authorized by its provisions. Burke. Constitutionalities, bottomless cavilings and questionings about written laws. Carlyle.

CONSTITUTIONALLY Con`sti*tu"tion*al*ly, adv.

1. In accordance with the constitution or natural disposition of the mind or body; naturally; as, he was constitutionally timid. The English were constitutionally humane. Hallam.

2. In accordance with the constitution or fundamental law; legally; as, he was not constitutionally appointed. Nothing would indue them to acknowledge that [such] an assembly . . . was constitutionally a Parliament. Macaulay.

CONSTITUTIONIST Con`sti*tu"tion*ist, n.

Defn: One who adheres to the constitution of the country. Bolingbroke.

CONSTITUTIVE Con"sti*tu`tive, a.

1. Tending or assisting to constitute or compose; elemental; essential. An ingredient and constitutive part of every virtue. Barrow.

2. Having power to enact, establish, or create; instituting; determining. Sir W. Hamilton.

CONSTITUTIVELY Con"sti*tu`tive*ly, adv.

Defn: In a constitutive manner.

CONSTRAIN Con*strain", v. t. [imp. & p.p. Constrained; p.pr. & vb.n. Constraining.] Etym: [OF. constraindre, F. contrainde, L. constringere; con- + stringere to draw tight. See Strain, and. cf. Constrict, Conbstringere.]

1. To secure by bonds; to chain; to bond or con He binds in hains The droway prophet, and his limbs constrains. Dryden. When winter frosts constrain the fields with old. Dryden.

2. To bring into a narrow compass; to compress. How the strait stays the slender waist constrain. Gay.

3. To hold back by force; to restrain; to repress. My sire in caves constrains the winds. Dryden.

4. To compel; to force; to necessiate; to oblige. The love of Christ constraineth us. 2. Cor. v. 14. I was constrained to appeal unto CActs xxviii. 19.

5. To violate; to ravish. [Obs.] Shak.

6. To produce in such a manner as to give an unnatural effet; as, a constrained voice.

Syn. -- To compel; force; drive; impel; urge; press.

CONSTRAINABLE Con*strain"a*ble, a. Etym: [Cf. OF. constraignable, F. contraignable.]

Defn: Capable of being constrained; liable to constraint, or to restraint. Hooker.

CONSTRAINED Con*strained", a.

Defn: Marked by constraint; not free; not voluntary; embarrassed; as, a constrained manner; a constrained tone.

CONSTRAINEDLY Con*strain"ed*ly, adv.

Defn: By constraint or compulsion; in a constrained manner. Hooker.

CONSTRAINER Con*strain"er, n.

Defn: One who constrains.

CONSTRAINT Con*straint", n. Etym: [OF. constrainte, F. constrainte.]

Defn: The act of constraining, or the state of being constrained; that which compels to, or restrains from, action; compulsion; restraint; necessity. Long imprisonment and hard constraint. Spenser. Not by constraint, but bDryden.

Syn. -- Compulsion; violence; necessity; urgency. -- Constraint, Compulsion. Constraint implies strong binding force; as, the constraint of necessity; the constraint of fear. Compulsion implies the exertion of some urgent impelling force; as, driven by compulsion. The former prevents us from acting agreeably to our wishes; the latter forces us to act contrary to our will. Compulsion is always produced by some active agent; a constraint may be laid upon us by the forms of civil society, or by other outward circumstances. Crabb.

CONSTRAINTIVE Con*straint"ive, a.

Defn: Constraining; compulsory. [R.] "Any constraintive vow." R. Carew.

CONSTRICT Con*strict", v. t. [imp. & p.p. Constricted; p.pr. & vb.n. Constricting.] Etym: [L. constrictus, p.p. of constringere. See Constrain.]

Defn: To draw together; to render narrower or smaller; to bind; to cramp; to contract or ause to shrink. Such things as constrict the fibers. Arbuthnot. Membranous organs inclosing a cavity which their contraction constrict. Todd & Bowman.

CONSTRICTED Con*strict"ed, a.

1. Drawn together; bound; contracted; cramped.

2. (Bot.)

Defn: Contracted or compressed so as to be smaller in certain places or parts than in others.

CONSTRICTION Con*stric"tion, n. Etym: [L. constrictio: cf. F. constriction.]

1. The act of constricting by means of some inherent power or by movement or change in the thing itself, as distinguished from compression.

2. The state of being constricted; the point where a thing is constricted; a narrowing or binding. A constriction of the parts inservient to speech. Grew.

CONSTRICTIVE Con*strict"ive, a.

Defn: Serving or tending to bind or constrict.

CONSTRICTOR Con*strict"or, n.

1. That which constricts, draws together, or contracts.

2. (Anat.)

Defn: A muscle which contracts or closes an orifice, or which compresses an organ; a sphincter.

3. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A serpent that kills its prey by inclosing and crushing it with its folds; as, the boa constrictor.

CONSTRINGE Con*stringe", v. t. [imp. & p.p. Constringed; p.pr. & vb.n. Constringing.] Etym: [L. constringere. See onstrain.]

Defn: To dawn together; to contract; to force to contract itself; to constrict; to cause to shrink. [R.] Strong liquors . . . intoxicate, constringe, harden the fibers, and coagulate the fluids. Arbuthnot.

CONSTRINGENT Con*strin"gent, a. Etym: [L. constringens, p.pr.]

Defn: Having the quality of contracting, binding, or compressing. Thomson.

CONSTRUCT Con*struct", v. t. [imp. & p.p. Constructed; p.pr. & vb.n. Constructing.] Etym: [L. constructus, p.p. of construere to bring together, to construct; con- + struere to pile up, set in order. See Structure, and cf. Construe.]

1. To put together the constituent parts of (something) in their proper place and order; to build; to form; to make; as, to construct an edlifice.

2. To devise; to invent; to set in order; to arrange; as, to construct a theory of ethics.

Syn. -- To build; erect; form; compile; make; fabricate; originate; invent.

CONSTRUCT Con"struct, a.

Defn: Formed by, or relating to, construction, interpretation, or inference. Construct form or state (Heb. Gram.), that of a noun used before another which has the genitive relation to it.

CONSTRUCTER Con*struct"er, n.

Defn: One who, or that which, constructs or frames.

CONSTRUCTION Con*struc"tion, n. Etym: [L. constructio: cf. F. construction.]

1. The process or art of constructing; the act of building; erection; the act of devising and forming; fabrication; composition.

2. The form or manner of building or putting together the parts of anything; structure; arrangement. An astrolabe of peculiar construction. Whewell.

3. (Gram.)

Defn: The arrangement and connection of words in a sentence; syntactical arrangement. Some particles . . . in certain constructions have the sense of a whole sentence contained in them. Locke.

4. The method of construing, interpreting, or explaining a declaration or fact; an attributed sense or meaning; understanding; explanation; interpretation; sense. Any person . . . might, by the sort of construction that would be put on this act, become liable to the penalties of treason. Hallam. Strictly, the term [construction] signifies determining the meaning and proper effect of language by a consideration of the subject matter and attendant circumstances in connection with the words employed. Abbott. Interpretation properly precedes construction, but it does not go beyond the written text. Parsons. Construction of an equation (Math.), the drawing of such lines and figures as will represent geometrically the quantities in the equation, and their relations to each other. -- Construction train (Railroad), a train for transporting men and materials for construction or repairs.

CONSTRUCTIONAL Con*struc"tion*al, a.

Defn: Pertaining to, or deduced from, construction or interpretation.

CONSTRUCTIONIST Con*struc"tion*ist, n.

Defn: One who puts a certain construction upon some writing or instrument, as the Constitutions of the United States; as, a strict constructionist; a broad constructionist.

CONSTRUCTIVE Con*struct"ive, a. Etym: [Cf. F. constructif.]

1. Having ability to construct or form; employed in construction; as, to exhibit constructive power. The constructive fingers of Watts. Emerson.

2. Derived from, or depending on, construction or interpretation; not directly expressed, but inferred. Constructive crimes (Law), acts having effects analogous to those of some statutory or common law crimes; as, constructive treason. Constructive crimes are no longer recognized by the courts. -- Constructive notice, notice imputed by construction of law. -- Constructive trust, a trust which may be assumed to exist, though no actual mention of it be made.

CONSTRUCTIVELY Con*struct"ive*ly, adv.

Defn: In a constructive manner; by construction or inference. A neutral must have notice of a blockade, either actually by a formal information, or constructively by notice to his government. Kent.

CONSTRUCTIVENESS Con*struct"ive*ness, n.

1. Tendency or ability to form or construct.

2. (Phren.)

Defn: The faculty which enables one to construct, as in mechanical, artistic, or literary matters.

CONSTRUCTOR Con*struct"or, n. Etym: [Cf. LL. constructor.]

Defn: A constructer.

CONSTRUCTURE Con*struc"ture, n.

Defn: That which is constructed or formed; an edifice; a fabric. [Obs.]

CONSTRUE Con*strue (; Archaic ), v. t. [imp & p. p. Construed; p. pr & vb. n. Construing.] Etym: [L. construere: cf. F. construire. See Construct.]

1. To apply the rules of syntax to (a sentence or clause) so as to exhibit the structure, arrangement, or connection of, or to discover the sense; to explain the construction of; to interpret; to translate.

2. To put a construction upon; to explain the sense or intention of; to interpret; to understand. Thus we are put to construe and paraphrase our own words to free ourselves either from the ignorance or malice of our enemies. Bp. Stilingfleet. And to be dull was construed to be good. Pope.

CONSTUPRATE Con"stu*prate, v. t. [imp. & p.p. Construprated; p.p. & vb.n. Constuprating.] Etym: [L. constupratus, p.p. of constuprare to ravish; con- + stuprare to ravish, stuprum rape.]

Defn: To ravish; to debauch. Burton.

CONSTUPRATION Con`stu*pra"tion, n.

Defn: The act of ravishing; violation; defilement. Bp. Hall.

CONSUBSTANTIAL Con`sub*stan"tial, a. Etym: [L. consubstantialis; con- + substantialis: cf. F. consubstantiel. See Substantial.]

Defn: Of the same kind or nature; having the same substance or essence; coessential. Christ Jesus . . . coeternal and consubstantial with the Father and with the Holy Ghost. Foxe.

CONSUBSTANTIALISM Con`sub*stan"tial*ism, n.

Defn: The doctrine of consubstantiation.

CONSUBSTANTIALIST Con`sub*stan"tial*ist, n.

Defn: One who believes in consubstantiation. Barrow.

CONSUBSTANTIALITY Con`sub*stan"ti*al"i*ty, n. Etym: [Cf. F. consubstantialité.]

Defn: Participation of the same nature; coexistence in the same substance. "His [the Son's] . . . consubstantiality with the Father." Hammend.

CONSUBSTANTIALLY Con`sub*stan"tial*ly, adv.

Defn: In a consubstantial manner; with identity of substance or nature.

CONSUBSTANTIATE Con`sub*stan"ti*ate, v. t. [imp & p. p. Consubstantiated; p.pr & vb. n. Consubstantiating.]

Defn: To cause to unite, or to regard as united, in one common substance or nature. [R.] His soul must be consubstantiated with reason. Jer. Taylor.

CONSUBSTANTIATE Con`sub*stan"ti*ate, v. i.

Defn: To profess or belive the doctrine of consubstantion. The consubstantiating church and priest. Dryden.

CONSUBSTANTIATE Con`sub*stan"ti*ate, a.

Defn: Partaking of the same substance; united; consubstantial. We must love her [the wife] that is thus consubstantiate with us. Feltham.

CONSUBSTANTIATION Con`sub*stan`ti*a"tion, n.

1. An identity or union of substance.

2. (Theol.)

Defn: The actual, substantial presence of the body of Christ with the bread and wine of the sacrament of the Lord's Supper; impanation; -- opposed to transubstantiation.

Note: This view, held by Luther himself, was called consubstantiation by non Lutheran writers in contradistinction to transsubstantiation, the Catholic view.

CONSUETUDE Con"sue*tude (; 144), n. Etym: [L. consuetudo. See Custom.]

Defn: Custom, habit; usage. [R.] To observe this consuetude or law. Barnes .

CONSUETUDINAL Con`sue*tu"di*nal, a. Etym: [LL. consuetudinalis.]

Defn: According to custom; customary; usual. [R.]

CONSUETUDINARY Con`sue*tu"di*na"ry, a. Etym: [LL. consuetudinarius.]

Defn: Customary.

CONSUETUDINARY Con`sue*tu"di*na*ry, n.; pl. Consuetudinaries (.

Defn: A manual or ritual of customary devotional exercises.

CONSUL Con"sul, n. Etym: [L., prob. fr. consulere to deliberate. See Consult.]

1. (Rom. Antiq.)

Defn: One of the two chief magistrates of the republic.

Note: They were chosen annually, originally from the patricians only, but later from the plebeians also.

2. A senator; a counselor. [Obs.] Many of the consuls, raised and met, Are at the duke's already. Shak. With kings and consuls of the earth. Job. iii. 14 (Douay Ver. )

3. (Fr. Hist.)

Defn: One of the three chief magistrates of France from 1799 to 1804, who were called, respectively, first, second, and third consul.

4. An official comissioned to reside in some foreign country, to care for the commercial interests of the citizens of the appointing government, and to protect its seamen. Consul general, a consul of the first rank, stationed in an important place, or having jurisdiction in several places or over several consula. -- Vice consul, a consular officer holding the place of a consul during the consul's absence or after he has been relieved.

CONSULAGE Con"sul*age, n. (Com.)

Defn: A duty or tax paid by merchants for the protection of their connerce by means of a consul in a foreign place.

CONSULAR Con"su*lar, a. Etym: [L. consularis; cf. F. consulaire.]

Defn: Of or pertaining to a consul; performing the duties of a consul; as, consular power; consular dignity; consular officers.

CONSULARY Con"su*la"ry, a.

Defn: Consular. [Obs.] Holland.

CONSULATE Con"su*late, n. Etym: [L. consulatus: cf. F. consulat.]

1. The office of a consul. Addison.

2. The jurisdiction or residence of a consul. Kent.

3. Consular government; term of office of a consul.

CONSULSHIP Con"sul*ship, n.

1. The office of a consul; consulate.

2. The term of office of a consul.

CONSULT Con*sult", v. i. [imp. & p.p. Consulted; p.pr. & vb.n. Consulting.] Etym: [L. consultare, fr. consulere to consult: cf. f. consulter. Cf. Counsel.]

Defn: To seek the opinion or advice of another; to take consel; to deliberate together; to confer. Let us consult upon to-morrow's business. Shak. All the laws of England have been made by the kings England, consulting with the nobility and commons. Hobbes.

CONSULT Con*sult", v. t.

1. To ask advice of; to seek the opinion of; to apply to for information or instruction; to refer to; as, to consult a physician; to consult a dictionary. Men fergot, or feared, to consult . . . ; they were content to consult liberaries. Whewell.

2. To have reference to, in judging or acting; to have regard to; to consider; as, to consult one's wishes. We are . . . to consult the necessities of life, rather than matters of ornament and delight. L'Estrange.

3. To deliberate upon; to take for. [Obs.] Manythings were there consulted for the future, yet nothing was positively resolved. Clarendon.

4. To bring about by counsel or contrivance; to devise; to contrive. [Obs.] Thou hast consulted shame to thy Hab. ii. 10.

CONSULT Con*sult" ( or ), n.

1. The act of consulting or deliberating; consultation; also, the result of consulation; determination; decision. [Obs.] The council broke; And all grave consults dissolved in smoke. Dryden.

2. A council; a meeting for consultation. [Obs.] "A consult of coquettes." Swift.

3. Agreement; concert [Obs.] Dryden.

CONSULTARY Con*sult"a*ry, a.

Defn: Formed by consultation; resulting from conference. Consultary response (Law), the opinion of a court on a special case. Wharton.

CONSULTATION Con`sul*ta"tion, n. Etym: [L. consultatio: cf. F. consultation.]

1. The act of consulting or conferring; deliberation of two or more persons on some matter, with a view to a decision. Thus they doubtful consultations dark Ended. Milton.

2. A council or conference, as of physicians, held to consider a special case, or of lawyers restained in a cause. Writ of consultation (Law), a writ by which a cause, improperly removed by prohibition from one court to another, is returned to the court from which it came; -- so called because the judges, on consultation, find the prohibition ill-founded.

CONSULTATIVE Con*sult"a*tive, a.

Defn: Pertaining to consultation; having the privilege or right of conference. "A consultative . . . power." Abp. Bramhall.

CONSULTATORY Con*sult"a*to*ry, a.

Defn: Formed by, or resulting from, consultation; advisory. Bancroft.

CONSULTER Con*sult"er, n.

Defn: One who consults, or asks counsel or information.

CONSULTING Con*sult"ing, a.

Defn: That consults. Consulting physician (Med.), a physician who consults with the attending practitioner regarding any case of disease.

CONSULTIVE Con*sult"ive, a.

Defn: Determined by, or pertaining to, consultation; deliberate; consultative. He that remains in the grace of God sins not by any deliberative, consultive, knowing act. Jer. Taylor.

CONSUMABLE Con*sum"a*ble, a.

Defn: Capable of being consumed; that may be destroyed, dissipated, wasted, or spent. "Consumable commodities." Locke.

CONSUME Con*sume", v. t. [imp. & p.p. Consumed; p.pr. & vb.n. Consuming.] Etym: [L. consumere to take wholly or complectely, to consume; con- + sumere to take; sub + emere to buv. See Redeem.]

Defn: To destroy, as by decomposition, dissipation, waste, or fire; to use up; to expend; to waste; to burn up; to eat up; to devour. If he were putting to my house the brand That shall consume it. Shak. Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth consume. Matt. vi. 20 (Rev. Ver. ). Let me alone . . . that I may consume them. Ex. xxxii. 10.

Syn. -- To destroy; swallow up; ingulf; absorb; waste; exhaust; spend; expend; squander; lavish; dissipate.

CONSUME Con*sume", v. i.

Defn: To waste away slowly. Therefore, let Renedick, like covered fire, Consume away in sighs. Shak.

CONSUMEDLY Con*sum"ed*ly, adv.

Defn: Excessively. [Low] He's so consumedly pround of it. Thackeray.

CONSUMER Con*sum"er, n.

Defn: One who, or that which, consumes; as, the consumer of food.

CONSUMER'S GOODS Con*sum"er's goods. (Polit. Econ.)

Defn: Economic goods that directly satisfy human wants or desires, such as food, clothes, pictures, etc.; -- called also consumption goods, or goods of the first order, and opposed to producer's goods.

CONSUMER'S SURPLUS Consumer's surplus. (Polit. econ.)

Defn: The excess that a purchaser would be willing to pay for a commodity over that he does pay, rather than go without the commodity; -- called also consumer's rent.

The price which a person pays for a thing can never exceed, and seldom comes up to, that which he would be willing to pay rather than go without it. . . . The excess of the price which he would be willing to pay rather than go without it, over that which he actually does pay, is the economic measure of this surplus satisfaction. It has some analogies to a rent; but is perhaps best called simply consumer's surplus. Alfred Marshall.

CONSUMINGLY Con*sum"ing*ly, adv.

Defn: In a consuming manner.

CONSUMMATE Con*sum"mate, a. Etym: [L. consummatus, p.p. or consummare to accomplish, sum up; con- + summa sum. See Sum.]

Defn: Carried to the utmost extent or degree; of the highest quality; complete; perfect. "A man of perfect and consummate virtue." Addison. The little band held the post with consummate tenacity. Motley

CONSUMMATE Con"sum*mate, v. t. [imp & p. p. Consummated; p. pr & vb. n. Consummating.]

Defn: To bring to completion; to raise to the highest point or degree; to complete; to finish; to perfect; to achieve. To consummate this business happily. Shak.

CONSUMMATELY Con*sum"mate*ly, adv.

Defn: In a consummate manner; completely. T. Warton.

CONSUMMATION Con`sum*ma"tion, n. Etym: [L. consummatio.]

Defn: The act of consummating, or the state of being consummated; completed; completion; perfection; termination; end (as of the world or of life). "Tis a consummation Devoutly to be wished. Shak. From its original to its consummation. Addison. Quiet consummation have, And renownShak. Consummation of marrige, completion of the connubial relation by actual cohabition.

CONSUMMATIVE Con*sum"ma*tive, a.

Defn: Serving to consummate; completing. "The final, the consummative procedure of philosophy." Sir W. Hamilton.

CONSUMPTION Con*sump"tion, n.. Etym: [L. consumptio: cf. F. consomption.]

1. The act or process of consuming by use, waste, etc.; decay; destruction. Every new advance of the price to the consumer is a new incentive to him to retrench the quality of his consumption. Burke.

2. The state or process of being consumed, wasted, or diminished; waste; diminution; loss; decay.

3. (Med.)

Defn: A progressive wasting away of the body; esp., that form of wasting, attendant upon pulmonary phthisis and associated with cough, spitting of blood, hectic fever, etc.; pulmonary phthisis; -- called also pulmonary consumption. Consumption of the bowels (Med.), inflammation and ulceration of the intestines from tubercular disease.

Syn. -- Decline; waste; decay. See Decline.

CONSUMPTIVE Con*sump"tive, a. Etym: [Cf. F. consomptif.]

1. Of or pertaining to consumption; having the quality of consuming, or dissipating; destructive; wasting. It [prayer] is not consumptive or our time. Sharp. A long consumptive war. Addison.

2. (Med.)

Defn: Affected with, or inclined to, consumption. The lean, consumptive wench, with coughs decayed. Dryden.

CONSUMPTIVE Con*sump"tive, n.

Defn: One affected with consumption; as, a resort for consumptives.

CONSUMPTIVELY Con*sump"tive*ly, adv.

Defn: In a way tending to or indication consumption. Beddoes.

CONSUMPTIVENESS Con*sump"tive*ness, n.

Defn: A state of being consumptive, or a tendency to a consumption.

CONTABESCENT Con`ta*bes"cent, a. Etym: [L. contabescenc, p.pr. of contabescere.]

Defn: Wasting away gradually. Darwin. - Con*ta*bes"cence, n.

CONTACT Con"tact, n. Etym: [L. contactus, fr. contingere, -tactum, to touch on all sides. See Contingent.]

1. A close union or junction of bodies; a touching or meeting.

2. (Geom.)

Defn: The property of two curves, or surfaces, which meet, and at the point of meeting have a common direction.

3. (Mining)

Defn: The plane between two adjacent bodies of dissimilar rock. Raymond. Contact level, a delicate level so pivoted as to tilt when two parts of a measuring apparatus come into contact with each other; -- used in precise determinations of lengths and in the accurate graduation of instruments.

CONTACTION Con*tac"tion, n.

Defn: Act of touching. [Obs.]

CONTAGION Con*ta"gion, n. Etym: [L. contagio: cf. F. contagion. See Contact.]

1. (Med.)

Defn: The transmission of a disease from one person to another, by direct or indirect contact.

Note: The term has been applied by some to the action of miasmata arising from dead animal or vegetable matter, bogs, fens, etc., but in this sense it is now abandoned. Dunglison. And will he steal out of his wholesome bed To dare the vile contagion of the night Shak.

2. That which serves as a medium or agency to transmit disease; a virus produced by, or exhalation proceeding from, a diseased person, and capable of reproducing the disease.

3. The act or means of communicating any influence to the mind or heart; as, the contagion of enthusiasm. "The contagion of example." Eikon Basilike. When lust . . . Lets in defilement to the inward parts, The soul grows clotted by contagion. Milton.

4. Venom; poison. [Obs.] "I'll touch my point with this contagion." Shak.

Syn. -- See Infection.

CONTAGIONED Con*ta"gioned, a.

Defn: Affected by contagion.

CONTAGIONIST Con*ta"gion*ist, n.

Defn: One who believes in the contagious character of certain diseases, as of yellow fever.

CONTAGIOUS Con*ta"gious, a. Etym: [L. contagiosus: cf. F. contagieux.]

1. (Med.)

Defn: Communicable by contact, by a virus, or by a bodily exhalation; catching; as, a contagious disease.

2. Conveying or generating disease; pestilential; poisonous; as, contagious air.

3. Spreading or communicable from one to another; exciting similar emotions or conduct in others. His genius rendered his courage more contagious. Wirt. The spirit of imitation is contagious. Ames.

Syn. -- Contagious, Infectious. These words have been used in very diverse senses; but, in general, a contagious disease has considered as one which is caught from another by contact, by the breath, by bodily effluvia, etc.; while an infectious disease supposes some entirely different cause acting by a hidden influence, like the miasma of prison ships, of marshes, etc., infecting the system with disease. "This distinction, though not universally admitted by medical men, as to the literal meaning, of the words, certainly applies to them in their figurative use. Thus we speak of the contagious influence of evil associates; their contagion of bad example, the contagion of fear, etc., when we refer to transmission by proximity or contact. On the other hand, we speak of infection by bad principles, etc., when we consider anything as diffused by some hidden influence.

CONTAGIOUS DISEASE Con*ta"gious dis*ease". (Med.)

Defn: A disease communicable by contact with a patient suffering from it, or with some secretion of, or object touched by, such a patient. Most such diseases have already been proved to be germ diseases, and their communicability depends on the transmission of the living germs. Many germ diseases are not contagious, some special method of transmission or inoculation of the germs being required.

CONTAGIOUSLY Con*ta"gious*ly, adv.

Defn: In a contagious manner.

CONTAGIOUSNESS Con*ta"gious*ness, n.

Defn: Quality of being contagious.

CONTAGIUM Con*ta"gi*um, n. Etym: [L.]

Defn: Contagion; contagious matter. "Contagium of measles." Tyndall.

CONTAIN Con*tain", v. t. [imp. & p.p. Contained; p.pr. & vb.n. Containing.] Etym: [OE. contenen, conteinen, F. contenir, fr. L. continere, - tentum; con- + tenere to hold. See Tenable, and cf. Countenance.]

1. To hold within fixed limits; to comprise; to include; to inclose; to hold. Behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens can not contain thee; how much less this house! 2 Chron. vi. 18. When that this body did contain a spirit. Shak. What thy stores contain bring forth. Milton.

2. To have capacity for; to be able to hold; to hold; to be equivalent to; as, a bushel contains four pecks.

3. To put constraint upon; to restrain; to confine; to keep within bounds. [Obs., exept as used reflexively.] The king's person contains the unruly people from evil occasions. Spenser. Fear not, my lord: we can contain ourselves. Shak.

CONTAIN Con*tain", v. i.

Defn: To restrain desire; to live in continence or chastity. But if they can not contain, let them marry. 1 Cor. vii. 9.

CONTAINABLE Con*tain"a*ble, a.

Defn: Capable of being contained or comprised. Boyle.

CONTAINANT Con*tain"ant, n.

Defn: A container.

CONTAINER Con*tain"er, n.

Defn: One who, or that which, contains.

CONTAINMENT Con*tain"ment, n.

Defn: That which is contained; the extent; the substance. [Obs.] The containment of a rich man's estate. Fuller.

CONTAMINABLE Con*tam"i*na*ble, a.

Defn: Capable of being contaminated.

CONTAMINATE Con*tam"i*nate, v. t. [imp. & p.p. Contaminated; p.pr. & vb.n. Contaminating.] Etym: [L. contaminatus, p.p. of contaminare to bring into contact, to contaminate, fr. contamen contagion, for contagmen; con- + root of tangere to touch. See Contact.]

Defn: To soil, stain, or corrupt by contact; to tarnish; to sully; to taint; to pollute; to defile. Shall we now Contaminate our figures with base bribes Shak. I would neither have simplicity imposed upon, nor virtue contaminated. Goldsmith.

Syn. -- To pollute; defile; sully; taint; tarnish; soil; stain; corrupt.

CONTAMINATE Con*tam"i*nate, a.

Defn: Contaminated; defiled; polluted; tainted. "Contaminate drink." Daniel.

CONTAMINATION Con*tam`i*na"tion, n. Etym: [L. contaminatio.]

Defn: The act or process of contaminating; pollution; defilement; taint; also, that which contaminates.

CONTAMITIVE Con*tam"i*tive, a.

Defn: Tending or liable to contaminate.

CONTANGO Con*tan"go, n.; pl. Contangoes. Etym: [Prob. a corruption of contingent.]

1. (Stock Exchange)

Defn: The premium or interest paid by the buyer to the seller, to be allowed to defer paying for the stock purchased until the next fortnightly settlement day. [Eng.]

2. (Law)

Defn: The postponement of payment by the buyer of stock on the payment of a premium to the seller. See Backwardation. N. Biddle.

CONTE Conte, n.; pl. Contes (#). [F.]

Defn: A short narrative or tale, esp. one dealing with surprising or marvelous events.

The conte (sic) is a tale something more than a sketch, it may be, and something less than a short story. . . . The "Canterbury Tales" are contes, most of them, if not all, and so are some of the "Tales of a Wayside Inn." Brander Matthews.

CONTECTION Con*tec"tion, n. Etym: [L. contegere, -tectum, to cover up.]

Defn: A covering. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.

CONTEK Con"tek, n. Etym: [OE. conteck, conteke, contake, perh. a corruption either of contact or contest.]

1. Quarrel; contention; contest. [Obs.] Contek with bloody knife. Chaucer.

2 2

Defn: Contumely; reproach. [Obs.] Wyclif.

CONTEMN Con*temn", v. t. [imp. & p.p. Contemned; p.pr. & vb.n. Contemning ( or ).] Etym: [L. contemnere, -temptum; con- + temnere to slight, despise: cf. OF. contemner.]

Defn: To view or treat with contempt, as mean and despicable; to reject with disdain; to despise; to scorn. Thy pompous delicacies I contemn. Milton. One who contemned divine and human laws. Dryden.

Syn. -- To despise; scorn; disdain; spurn; slight; neglect; underrate; overlook. -- To Contemn, Despise, Scorn, Disdain. Contemn is the generic term, and is applied especially to objects, qualities, etc., which are deemed contemptible, and but rarely to individuals; to despise is to regard or treat as mean, unbecoming, or worthless; to scorn is stronger, expressing a quick, indignant contempt; disdain is still stronger, denoting either unwarrantable pride and haughtiness or an abhorrence of what is base.

CONTEMNER Con*tem"ner ( or ), n.

Defn: One who contemns; a despiser; a scorner. "Contemners of the gods." South.

CONTEMNINGLY Con*tem"ning*ly, adv.

Defn: Contemptuously. [R.]

CONTEMPER Con*tem"per, v. t. Etym: [L. contemperare, -temperatum; con- + temperare to temper. Cf. Contemperate.]

Defn: To modify or temper; to allay; to qualify; to moderate; to soften. [Obs.] The antidotes . . . have allayed its bitterness and contempered its malignancy. Johnson.

CONTEMPERATE Con*tem"per*ate, v. t. Etym: [See Contemper.]

Defn: To temper; to moderate. [Obs.] Moisten and contemperate the air. Sir T. Browne.

CONTEMPERATION Con*tem`per*a"tion, n.

1. The act of tempering or moderating. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.

2. Proportionate mixture or combination. "Contemperation of light and shade." Boyle.

CONTEMPERATURE Con*tem"per*a*ture, n.

Defn: The condition of being tempered; proportionate mixture; temperature. [Obs.] The different contemperature of the elements. SDouth.

CONTEMPLANCE Con*tem"plance, n.

Defn: Contemplation. [Obs.] Chaucer.

CONTEMPLANT Con*tem"plant, a. Etym: [L. contemplans, p.pr.]

Defn: Given to contemplation; meditative. [R.] Coleridge.

CONTEMPLATE Con"tem*plate, v. t. [imp & p. p. Contemplated (# or #); p.pr & vb. n. Contemplating.] Etym: [L. contemplatus, p.p. of contemplari to contemplate; con- + templum a space for observation marked out by the augur. See Temple.]

1. To look at on all sides or in all its bearings; to view or consider with continued attention; to regard with deliberate care; to meditate on; to study. To love, at least contemplate and admire, What I see excellent. Milton. We thus dilate Our spirits to the size of that they contemplate. Byron.

2. To consider or have in view, as contingent or probable; to look forward to; to purpose; to intend. There remain some particulars to complete the information contemplated by those resolutions. A. Hamilton. If a treaty contains any stipulations which contemplate a state of future war. Kent.

Syn. -- To view; behold; study; ponder; muse; meditate on; reflect on; consider; intend; design; plan; propose; purpose. See Meditate.

CONTEMPLATE Con"tem*plate, v. i.

Defn: To consider or think studiously; to ponder; to reflect; to muse; to meditate. So many hours must I contemplate. Shak.

CONTEMPLATION Con`tem*pla"tion, n. Etym: [F. contemplation, L. contemplatio.]

1. The act of the mind in considering with attention; continued attention of the mind to a particular subject; meditation; musing; study. In contemplation of created things, By steps we may ascend to God. Milton. Contemplation is keeping the idea which is brought into the mind for some time actually in view. Locke.

2. Holy meditation. [Obs.] To live in prayer and contemplation. Shak.

3. The act of looking forward to an event as about to happen; expectation; the act of intending or purposing. In contemplation of returning at an early date, he left. Reid. To have in contemplation, to inted or purpose, or to have under consideration.

CONTEMPLATIST Con*tem"pla*tist, n.

Defn: A contemplator. [R.] I. Taylor.

CONTEMPLATIVE Con*tem"pla*tive, a. Etym: [F. contemplatif, L. contemplativus.]

1. Pertaining to contemplation; addicted to, or employed in, contemplation; meditative. Fixed and contemplative their looks. Denham.

2. Having the power of contemplation; as, contemplative faculties. Ray.

CONTEMPLATIVE Con*tem"pla*tive, n. (R. C. Ch.)

Defn: A religious or either sex devoted to prayer and meditation, rather than to active works of charity.

CONTEMPLATIVELY Con*tem"pla*tive*ly, adv.

Defn: With contemplation; in a contemplative manner.

CONTEMPLATIVENESS Con*tem"pla*tive*ness, n.

Defn: The state of being contemplative; thoughtfulness.

CONTEMPLATOR Con"tem*pla`tor, n. Etym: [L.]

Defn: One who contemplates. Sir T. Browne.

CONTEMPORANEITY Con*tem`po*ra*ne"i*ty, n.

Defn: The state of being contemporaneous. The lines of contemporaneity in the oölitic system. J. Philips.

CONTEMPORANEOUS Con*tem`po*ra"ne*ous, a. Etym: [L. contemporaneus; con- + tempus time. See Temporal, and cf. Contemporaneous.]

Defn: Living, existing, or occurring at the same time; contemporary. The great age of Jewish philosophy, that of Aben Esra, Maimonides, and Kimchi, had been contemporaneous with the later Spanish school of Arabic philosophy. Milman - Con*tem`po*ra"ne*ous*ness, n.

CONTEMPORANEOUSLY Con*tem`po*ra"ne*ous*ly, adv.

Defn: At the same time with some other event.

CONTEMPORARINESS Con*tem"po*ra*ri*ness, n.

Defn: Existence at the same time; contemporaneousness. Howell.

CONTEMPORARY Con*tem"po*ra*ry, a. Etym: [Pref. con- + L. temporarius of belonging to time, tempus time. See Temporal, and cf. Contemporaneous.]

1. Living, occuring, or existing, at the same time; done in, or belonging to, the same times; contemporaneous. This king [Henry VIII.] was contemporary with the greatest monarchs of Europe. Strype.

2. Of the same age; coeval. A grove born with himself he sees, And loves his old contemporary trees. Cowley.

CONTEMPORARY Con*tem"po*ra*ry, n.; pl. Contemporaries.

Defn: One who lives at the same time with another; as, Petrarch and Chaucer were contemporaries.

CONTEMPT Con*tempt", n. Etym: [L. contemptus, fr. contemnere: cf. OF. contempt. See Contemn.]

1. The act of contemning or despising; the feeling with which one regards that which is esteement mean, vile, or worthless; disdain; scorn. Criminal contempt of public feeling. Macaulay. Nothing, says Longinus, can be great, the contempt of which is great. Addison.

2. The state of being despised; disgrace; shame. Contempt and begarry hangs upon thy back. Shaks.

3. An act or expression denoting contempt. Little insults and contempts. Spectator. The contempt and anger of his lip. Shak.

4. (Law)

Defn: Disobedience of the rules, orders, or process of a court of justice, or of rules or orders of a legislative body; disorderly, contemptuous, or insolent language or behavior in presence of a court, tending to disturb its proceedings, or impair the respect due to its authority.

Note: Contempt is in some jurisdictions extended so as to include publications reflecting injuriously on a court of justice, or commenting unfairly on pending proceedings; in other jurisdictions the courts are prohibited by statute or by the constitution from thus exercising this process.

Syn. -- Disdain; scorn; derision; mockery; contumely; neglect; disregard; slight.

CONTEMPTIBILITY Con*tempt`i*bil"i*ty, n.

Defn: The quality of being contemptible; contemptibleness. Speed.

CONTEMPTIBLE Con*tempt"i*ble, a.

1. Worthy of contempt; deserving of scorn or disdain; mean; vile; despicable. Milton. The arguments of tyranny are ascontemptible as its force is dreadful. Burke.

2. Despised; scorned; neglected; abject. Locke.

3. Insolent; scornful; contemptuous. [Obs.] If she should make tender of her love, 't is very possible he 'll scorn it; for the man . . . hath a contemptible spirit. Shak.

Syn. -- Despicable; abject; vile; mean; base; paltry; worthless; sorry; pitiful; scurrile. See Contemptuous. -- Contemptible, Despicable, Pitiful, Paltry. Despicable is stronger than contemptible, as despise is stronger than contemn. It implies keen disapprobation, with a mixture of anger. A man is despicable chiefly for low actions which mark his life, such as servility, baseness, or mean adulation. A man is contemptible for mean qualities which distinguish his character, especially those which show him to be weak, foolish, or worthless. Treachery is despicable, egotism is contemptible. Pitiful and paltry are applied to cases which are beneath anger, and are simply contemptible in a high degree.

CONTEMPTIBLENESS Con*tempt"i*ble*ness, n.

Defn: The state or quality of being contemptible, or of being despised.

CONTEMPTIBLY Con*tempt"i*bly, adv.

Defn: In a contemptible manner.

CONTEMPTUOUS Con*temp"tu*ous, a.

Defn: Manifecting or expressing contempt or disdain; scornful; haughty; insolent; disdainful. A proud, contemptious behavior. Hammond. Savage invectiveand contemptuous sarcasm. Macaulay. Rome . . . entertained the most contemptuous opinion of the Jews. Atterbury.

Syn. -- Scornful; insolent; haughty; disdainful; supercilious; insulting; contumelious. -- Contemptuous, Contemptible. These words, from their similarity of sound, are sometimes erroneously interchanged, as when a person speaks of having "a very contemptible opinion of another." Contemptible is applied to that which is the object of contempt; as, contemptible conduct; acontemptible fellow. Contemptuous is applied to that which indicates contempts; as, a contemptuous look; a contemptuous remark; contemptuous treatment. A person, or whatever is personal, as an action, an expression, a feeling, an opinion, may be either contemptuous or contemptible; a thing may be contemptible, but can not be contemptuous.

CONTEMPTUOUSLY Con*temp"tu*ous*ly, adv.

Defn: In a contemptuous manner; with scorn or disdain; despitefully. The apostles and most eminent Christians were poor, and used contemptuously. Jer. Taylor.

CONTEMPTUOUSNESS Con*temp"tu*ous*ness, n.

Defn: Disposition to or manifestion of contempt; insolence; haughtiness.

CONTEND Con*tend", v. i. [imp. & p.p. Contended; p.pr. & vb.n. Contending.] Etym: [OF. contendre, L. contendere, -tentum; con- + tendere to strech. See Tend.]

1. To strive in opposition; to contest; to dispute; to vie; to quarrel; to fight. For never two such kingdoms did content Without much fall of blood. Shak. The Lord said unto me, Distress not the Moabites, neither contend with them in battle. Deut. ii. 9. In ambitious strength I did Contend against thy valor. Shak.

2. To struggle or exert one's self to obtain or retain possession of, or to defend. You sit above, and see vain men below Contend for what you only can bestow. Dryden.

3. To strive in debate; to engage in discussion; to dispute; to argue. The question which our author would contend for. Locke. Many things he fiercely contended about were trivial. Dr. H. More.

Syn. -- To struggle; fight; combat; vie; strive; oppose; emulate; contest; litigate; dispute; debate.

CONTEND Con*tend", v. t.

Defn: To struggle for; to contest. [R.] Carthage shall contend the world with Rome.Dryden.

CONTENDENT Con*tend"ent, n. Etym: [L. contendens, p.pr.]

Defn: n antagonist; a contestant. [Obs.] In all notable changes and revolutions the contendents have been still made a prey to the third party. L'Estrange.

CONTENDER Con*tend"er, n.

Defn: One who contends; a contestant.

CONTENDRESS Con*tend"ress, n.

Defn: A female contestant. [R.]

CONTENEMENT Con*ten"e*ment, n. Etym: [Pref. con- + tenemnt.] (Law)

Defn: That which is held together with another thing; that which is connected with a tenetment, or thing holden, as a certin quantity of land a Burrill.

CONTENT Con*tent, a. Etym: [F. content, fr. L. contentus, p.p. of contenire to hold together, restrain. See Contain.]

Defn: Contained within limits; hence, having the desires limited by that which one has; not disposed to repine or grumble; satisfied; contented; at rest. Having food rainment, let us be therewith content. 1 Tim. vi. 8.

CONTENT Con"tent ( or ; 277), n.; usually in pl., Contents.

1. That which is contained; the thing or things held by a receptacle or included within specified limits; as, the contents of a cask or bale or of a room; the contents of a book. I shall prove these writings . . . authentic, and the contents true, and worthy of a divine original. Grew.

2. Power of containing; capacity; extent; size. [Obs.] Strong ship's, of great content. Bacon.

3. (Geom.)

Defn: Area or quantity of space or matter contained within certain limits; as, solid contents; superficial contents. The geometrical content, figure, and situation of all the lands of a kingdom. Graunt. Table of contents, or Contents, a table or list of topics in a book, showing their order and the place where they may be found: a summary.

CONTENT Con*tent", v. t. Etym: [F. contenter, LL. contentare, fr. L. contentus, p.p. See Content, a.]

1. To satisfy the desires of; to make easy in any situation; to appease or quiet; to gratify; to please. Do not content yourselves with obscure and confused ideas, where clearer are to be attained. I. Watts. Pilate, willing to content the people, released Barabbas unto them. Mark xv. 15.

2. To satisfy the expectations of; to pay; to requite. Come the next Sabbath, and I will content you. Shak.

Syn. -- To satisfy; appease; plese. See Satiate.

CONTENT Con*tent", n.

1. Rest or quietness of the mind in one's present condition; freedom from discontent; satisfaction; contentment; moderate happiness. Such is the fullness of my heart's content. Shak.

2. Acquiescence without examination. [Obs.] The sense they humbly take upon content. Pope.

3. That which contents or satisfies; that which if attained would make one happy. So will I in England work your grace's full content. Shak.

4. (Eng. House of Lords)

Defn: An expression of assent to a bill or motion; an affirmate vote; also, a member who votes "Content.". Supposing the number of "Contents" and "Not contents" strictly equal in number and consequence.Burke.

CONTENTATION Con`ten*ta"tion, n. Etym: [LL. contentatio.]

Defn: Content; satisfaction. [Obs.] Bacon.

CONTENTED Con*tent"ed, a.

Defn: Content; easy in mind; satisfied; quiet; willing. -- Con*tent"ed*ly, adv. -- Con*tent"ed*ness, n.

CONTENTFUL Con*tent"ful, a.

Defn: Full of content. [Obs.] Barrow.

CONTENTION Con*ten"tion, n. Etym: [F. contention, L. contentio. See Contend.]

1. A violent effort or struggle to obtain, or to resist, something; contest; strife. I would my arcontenion. Shak.

2. Strife in words; controversy; altercation quarrel; dispute; as, a bone of contention. Contentions and strivings about the law. Titus iii. 9.

3. Vehemence of endeavor; eagerness; ardor; zeal. An end . . . worthy our utmost contenion to obtain. Rogers.

4. A point maintained in an argument, or a line of argument taken in its support; the subject matter of discussion of strife; a position taken or contended for. All men seem agreed what is to be done; the contention is how the subject is to be divided and defined. Bagehot. This was my original contention, and I still maintain that you should abide by your former decision. Jowett.

Syn. -- Struggle; strife; contest; quarrel; combat; conflict; feud; litigation; controversy; dissension; variance; disagreement; debate; competition; emulation. -- Contention, Strife. A struggle between two parties is the idea common to these two words. Strife is a struggle for mastery; contention is a struggle for the possession of some desired object, or the accomplishment of some favorite end. Neither of the words is necessairly used in a bad sense, since there may be a generous strife or contention between two friends as to which shall incur danger or submit to sacrifices. Ordinarily, however, these words denote a struggle arising from bad passions. In that case, strife usually springs from a quarrelsome temper, and contention from, a selfish spirit which seeks its own aggrandizement, or is fearful lest others should obtain too such. Strife has more reference to the manner than to the object of a struggle, while contention takes more account of the end to be gained.

CONTENTIOUS Con*ten"tious, a. Etym: [L. contentiosus: cf. F. contentieux.]

1. Fond of contention; given to angry debate; provoking dispute or contention; quarrelsome. Despotic and contentious temper. Macaulay.

2. Relating to contention or strife; involving or characterized by contention. Spenser. More cheerfull; though not less contentious, regions. Brougham.

3. (Law)

Defn: Contested; litigated; litigious; having power to decide controversy. Contentious jurisdiction (Eng. Eccl. Law), jurisdiction over matters in controversy between parties, in contradistinction to voluntary jurisdiction, or that exercised upon matters not opposed or controverted.

Syn. -- Quarrelsome; pugnacious; dissentious; wrangling; litigious; perverse; peevish. - Con*ten"tious*ly, adv. -- Con*ten"tious*ness, n.

CONTENTLESS Con*tent"less, a. Etym: [Content + -less.]

Defn: Discontented; dissatisfied. [R.] Shak.

CONTENTLY Con*tent"ly, adv.

Defn: In a contented manner. [Obs.]

CONTENTMENT Con*tent"ment, n. Etym: [Cf. F. contentement. See Content, v. t.]

1. The state of being contented or satisfied; content. Contentment without external honor is humility. Grew. Godliness with contentment is great gain. 1 Tim. vi. 6.

2. The act or process of contenting or satisfying; as, the contentment of avarice is impossible.

3. Gratification; pleasure; satisfaction. [Obs.] At Paris the prince spent one whole day to give his mind some contentment in viewing of a famous city. Sir H. Wotton.

CONTENTS Con*tents ( or ; 277), n. pl.

Defn: See Content, n.

CONTERMINABLE Con*ter"mi*na*ble, a.

Defn: Having the same bounds; terminating at the same time or place; conterminous. Love and life not conterminable. Sir H. Wotton.

CONTERMINAL Con*ter"mi*nal, a. Etym: [LL. conterminalis.]

Defn: Conterminous.

CONTERMINANT Con*ter"mi*nant, a.

Defn: Having the same limits; ending at the same time; conterminous. Lamb.

CONTERMINATE Con*ter"mi*nate, a. Etym: [L. conterminare to border upon, fr. conterminus conterminous; con- + terminus border.]

Defn: Having the same bounds; conterminous. [Obs.] B. Jonson.

CONTERMINOUS Con*ter"mi*nous, a. Etym: [L. conterminus. Cf. Conterminous.]

Defn: Having the same bounds, or limits; bordering upon; contiguous. This conformed so many of them as were conterminous to the colonies and garrisons, to the Roman laws. Sir M. Hale.

CONTERRANEAN; CONTERRANEOUS Con`ter*ra"ne*an, Con`ter*ra"ne*ous, a. Etym: [L. conterraneus; con- + terra country.]

Defn: Of or belonging to the same country. Howell.

CONTESSERATION Con*tes`ser*a"tion, n. Etym: [L. contesseratio, from contesserare to contract friendship by means of the tesserae (friendship tokens).]

Defn: An assemblage; a collection; harmonious union. [Obs.] That person of his [George Herbert], which afforded so unusual a contesseration of elegancies. Oley.

CONTEST Con*test", v. t. [imp. & p.p. Contested; p.pr. & vb.n. Contesting.] Etym: [F. contester, fr. L. contestari to call to witness, contestari litem to introduce a lawsuit by calling witnesses, to bring an action; con- + testari to be a witness, testic witness. See Testify.]

1. To make a subject of dispute, contention, litigation, or emulation; to contend for; to call in question; to controvert; to oppose; to dispute. The people . . . contested not what was done. Locke. Few philosophical aphorisms have been more frequenty repeated, few more contested than this. J. D. Morell.

2. To strive earnestly to hold or maintain; to struggle to defend; as, the troops contested every inch of ground.

3. (Law)

Defn: To make a subject of litigation; to defend, as a suit; to dispute or resist; as a claim, by course of law; to controvert. To contest an election. (Polit.) (a) To strive to be elected. (b) To dispute the declared result of an election.

Syn. -- To dispute; controvert; debate; litigate; oppose; argue; contend.

CONTEST Con*test", v. i.

Defn: To engage in contention, or emulation; to contend; to strive; to vie; to emulate; -- followed usually by with. The difficulty of an argument adds to the pleasure of contesting with in, when there are hopes of victory. Bp. Burnet. Of man, who dares in pomp with Jove contest Pope.

CONTEST Con"test, n.

1. Earnest dispute; strife in argument; controversy; debate; altercation. Leave all noisy contests, all immodest clamors and brawling language. I. Watts.

2. Earnest struggle for superiority, victory, defense, etc.; competition; emulation; strife in arms; conflict; combat; encounter. The late battle had, in effect, been a contest between one usurper and another. Hallam. It was fully expected that the contest there would be long and fierce. Macaulay.

Syn. -- Conflict; combat; battle; encounter; shock; struggle; dispute; altercation; debate; controvesy; difference; disagreement; strife. -- Contest, Conflict, Combat, Encounter. Contest is the broadest term, and had originally no reference to actual fighting. It was, on the contrary, a legal term signifying to call witnesses, and hence came to denote first a struggle in argument, and then a struggle for some common object between opposing parties, usually one of considerable duration, and implying successive stages or acts. Conflict denotes literally a close personal engagement, in which sense it is applied to actual fighting. It is, however, more commonly used in a figurative sense to denote strenuous or direct opposition; as, a mental conflict; conflicting interests or passions; a conflict of laws. An encounter is a direct meeting face to face. Usually it is a hostile meeting, and is then very nearly coincident with conflict; as, an encounter of opposing hosts. Sometimes it is used in a looser sense; as, "this keen encounter of our wits." Shak. Combat is commonly applied to actual fighting, but may be used figuratively in reference to a strife or words or a struggle of feeling.

CONTESTABLE Con*test"a*ble, a. Etym: [Cf. F. contestable.]

Defn: Capable of being contested; debatable.

CONTESTANT Con*test"ant, n. Etym: [Cf. F. contestant.]

Defn: One who contests; an opponent; a litigant; a disputant; one who claims that which has been awarded to another.

CONTESTATION Con`tes*ta"tion, n. Etym: [L. contestatio testimony: cf. F. contestation a contesting.]

1. The act of contesting; emulation; rivalry; strife; dispute. "Loverlike contestation." Milton. After years spent in domestic, unsociable contestations, she found means to withdraw. Clarendon.

2. Proof by witness; attestation; testimony. [Obs.] A solemn contestation ratified on the part of God. Barrow.

CONTESTINGLY Con*test"ing*ly, adv.

Defn: In a contending manner.

CONTEX Con*tex, v. t.

Defn: To context. [Obs.] Boyle.

CONTEXT Con*text", a. Etym: [L. contextus, p.p. of contexere to weave, to unite; con- + texere to weave. See Text.]

Defn: Knit or woven together; close; firm. [Obs.] The coats, without, are context and callous. Derham.

CONTEXT Con"text, n. Etym: [L. contextus; cf. F. contexte .]

Defn: The part or parts of something written or printed, as of Scripture, which precede or follow a text or quoted sentence, or are so intimately associated with it as to throw light upon its meaning. According to all the light that the contexts afford. Sharp.

CONTEXT Con*text", v. t.

Defn: To knit or bind together; to unite closely. [Obs.] Feltham. The whole world's frame, which is contexted only by commerce and contracts. R. Junius.

CONTEXTURAL Con*tex"tur*al, a.

Defn: Pertaining to contexture or arrangement of parts; producing contexture; interwoven. Dr. John Smith (1666).

CONTEXTURE Con*tex"ture, n. Etym: [Cf. F. contexture.]

Defn: The arrangement and union of the constituent parts of a thing; a weaving together of parts; structural character of a thing; system; constitution; texture. That wonderful contexture of all created beings. Dryden. He was not of any delicate contexture; his limbs rather sturdy than dainty. Sir H. Wotton.

CONTEXTURED Con*tex"tured, a.

Defn: Formed into texture; woven together; arranged; composed. [R.] Carlyle.

CONTICENT Con"ti*cent, a. Etym: [L. conticens, p.pr. of conticere; con- + tacere to be silent.]

Defn: Silent. [R.] "The guests sit conticent." Thackeray.

CONTIGNATION Con`tig*na"tion, n. Etym: [L. contignatio, fr. contignare to join with beams; con- + tignum beam.]

1. The act or process of framing together, or uniting, as beams in a fabric. Burke.

2. A framework or fabric, as of beams. Sir H. Wotton.

CONTIGUATE Con*tig"u*ate, a. Etym: [LL. contiguatus.]

Defn: Contiguous; touching. [Obs.] Holland.

CONTIGUITY Con`ti*gu"i*ty, n. Etym: [Cf. F. contiguit, LL. contiguitas.]

Defn: The state of being contiguous; intimate association; nearness; proximity. The convicinity and contiguity of the two parishes. T. Warton.

CONTIGUOUS Con*tig"u*ous, a. Etym: [L. contiguus; akin to contigere to touch on all sides. See Contingent.]

Defn: In actual contact; touching; also, adjacent; near; neighboring; adjoining. The two halves of the paper did not appear fully divided . . . but seemed contiguous at one of their angles. Sir I. Newton. Sees no contiguous palace rear its head. Goldsmith. Contiguous angles. See Adjacent angles, under Angle.

Syn. -- Adjoining; adjacent. See Adjacent. - Con*tig"u*ous*ly, adv. -- Con*tig"u*ous*ness, n.

CONTINENCE; CONTINENCY Con"ti*nence, Con"ti*nen*cy, n. Etym: [F. continence, L. continentia. See Continent, and cf. Countenance.]

1. Self-restraint; self-command. He knew what to say; he knew also, when to leave off, -- a continence which is practiced by few writers. Dryden.

2. The restraint which a person imposes upon his desires and passions; the act or power of refraining from indulgence of the sexual appetite, esp. from unlawful indulgence; sometimes, moderation in sexual indulgence. If they [the unmarried and widows] have not continency, let them marry. 1 Cor. vii. 9 (Rev. Ver. ). Chastity is either abstinence or continence: abstinence is that of virgins or widows; continence, that of married persons. Jer. Taylor.

3. Uninterrupted course; continuity. [Obs.] Ayliffe.

CONTINENT Con"ti*nent, a. Etym: [L. continens, -entis, prop., p. pr. of continere to hold together, to repress: cf. F. continent. See Contain.]

1. Serving to restrain or limit; restraining; opposing. [Obs.] Shak.

2. Exercising restraint as to the indulgence of desires or passions; temperate; moderate. Have a continent forbearance till the speed of his rage goes slower. Shak.

3. Abstaining from sexual intercourse; exercising restraint upon the sexual appetite; esp., abstaining from illicit sexual intercourse; chaste. My past life Hath been as continent, as chaste, as true, As I am now unhappy. Shak.

4. Not interrupted; connected; continuous; as, a continent fever. [Obs.] The northeast part of Asia is, if not continent with the west side of America, yet certainly it is the least disoined by sea of all that coast. Berrewood.

CONTINENT Con"ti*nent, n. Etym: [L. continens, prop., a holding together: cf. F. continent. See Continent, a.]

1. That which contains anything; a receptacle. [Obs.] The smaller continent which we call a pipkin. Bp. Kennet.

2. One of the grand divisions of land on the globe; the main land; specifically (Phys. Geog.), a large body of land differing from an island, not merely in its size, but in its structure, which is that of a large basin bordered by mountain chains; as, the continent of North America.

Note: The continents are now usually regarded as six in number: North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa, and Australia. But other large bodies of land are also reffered to as continents; as, the Antarctic continent; the continent of Greenland. Europe, Asia, and Africa are often grouped together as the Eastern Continent, and North and South America as the Western Continent. The Continent, the main land of Europe, as distinguished from the islands, especially from England.

CONTINENTAL Con`ti*nen"tal, a.

1. Of or pertaining to a continent.

2. Of or pertaining to the main land of Europe, in distinction from the adjacent islands, especially England; as, a continental tour; a continental coalition. Macaulay. No former king had involved himself so frequently in the labyrinth of continental alliances. Hallam.

3. (Amer. Hist.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to the confederated colonies collectively, in the time of the Revolutionary War; as, Continental money. The army before Boston was designated as the Continental army, in contradistinction to that under General Gage, which was called the "Ministerial army." W. Irving. Continental Congress. See under Congress. -- Continental system (Hist.), the blockade of Great Britain ordered by Napoleon by the decree of Berlin, Nov. 21, 1806; the object being to strike a blow at the maritime and commercial supremacy of Great Britain, by cutting her off from all intercourse with the continent of Europe.

CONTINENTAL Con`ti*nen"tal, n. (Amer. Hist.)

Defn: A soldier in the Continental army, or a piece of the Continental currency. See Continental, a., 3.

CONTINENTAL DRIVE Con`ti*nen"tal drive. (Automobiles)

Defn: A transmission arrangement in which the longitudinal crank shaft drives the rear wheels through a clutch, change-speed gear, countershaft, and two parallel side chains, in order.

CONTINENTAL GLACIER Continental glacier.

Defn: A broad ice sheet resting on a plain or plateau and spreading outward from a central névé, or region of accumulation.

CONTINENTAL PRONUNCIATION Continental pronunciation (of Latin and Greek.)