Chapter 331

Con*tes`ser*a"tion (?) , n. [L. contesseratio , from contesserare to contract friendship by means of the tesserae (friendship tokens).] An assemblage; a collection; harmonious union. [Obs.]

That person of his [George Herbert], which afforded so unusual a contesseration of elegancies. Oley.

Contest <Xpage=313>

Con*test" (?) , v. t. [ imp. & p.p. Contested ; p.pr. & vb.n. Contesting .] [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) 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 <Xpage=313>

Con*test" , v. i. 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 <Xpage=313>

Con"test (?) , n. 1. Earnest dispute; strife in argument; controversy; debate; altercation.

Leave all noisy contest s, 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 <Xpage=313>

Con*test"a*ble (?) , a. [Cf. F. contestable .] Capable of being contested; debatable.

Contestant <Xpage=313>

Con*test"ant (?) , n. [Cf. F. contestant .] One who contests; an opponent; a litigant; a disputant; one who claims that which has been awarded to another.

Contestation <Xpage=313>

Con`tes*ta"tion (?) , n. [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 <Xpage=313>

Con*test"ing*ly (?) , adv. In a contending manner.

Contex <Xpage=313>

Con*tex (?) , v. t. To context. [Obs.]

Boyle.

Context <Xpage=313>

Con*text" (?) , a. [L. contextus , p.p. of contexere to weave, to unite; con- + texere to weave. See Text .] Knit or woven together; close; firm. [Obs.]

The coats, without, are context and callous. Derham.

Context <Xpage=313>

Con"text (?) , n. [L. contextus ; cf. F. contexte .] 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 <Xpage=313>

Con*text" (?) , v. t. 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 <Xpage=313>

Con*tex"tur*al (?; 135) , a. Pertaining to contexture or arrangement of parts; producing contexture; interwoven.

Dr. John Smith (1666).

Contexture <Xpage=313>

Con*tex"ture (?; 135) , n. [Cf. F. contexture .] 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 <Xpage=313>

Con*tex"tured (?; 135) , a. Formed into texture; woven together; arranged; composed. [R.]

Carlyle.

Conticent <Xpage=313>

Con"ti*cent (?) , a. [L. conticens , p.pr. of conticere ; con- + tacere to be silent.] Silent. [R.] "The guests sit conticent ."

Thackeray.

Contignation <Xpage=313>

Con`tig*na"tion (?) , n. [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 <Xpage=313>

Con*tig"u*ate (?) , a. [LL. contiguatus .] Contiguous; touching. [Obs.]

Holland.

Contiguity <Xpage=313>

Con`ti*gu"i*ty (?) , n. [Cf. F. contiguit<?/ , LL. contiguitas .] The state of being contiguous; intimate association; nearness; proximity.

The convicinity and contiguity of the two parishes. T. Warton.

Contiguous <Xpage=313>

Con*tig"u*ous (?) , a. [L. contiguus ; akin to contigere to touch on all sides. See Contingent .] 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 <Xpage=313>

Con"ti*nence (?) , Con"ti*nen*cy (?) , n. [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 <Xpage=313>

Con"ti*nent (?) , a. [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 <Xpage=313>

Con"ti*nent , n. [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 .

&hand; 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 <Xpage=313>

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.) 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 <Xpage=313>

Con`ti*nen"tal (?) , n. (Amer. Hist.) A soldier in the Continental army, or a piece of the Continental currency. See Continental , a. , 3.

<-- "Not worth a continental." [said of Continental currency after the American revolution] -->

Continently <Xpage=313>

Con"ti*nent*ly (?) , adv. In a continent manner; chastely; moderately; temperately.

Contingence <Xpage=313>

Con*tin"gence (?) , n. See Contingency .

Contingency <Xpage=313>

Con*tin"gen*cy (?) , n ,; pl. Contingencies (#) . [Cf. F. contingence .] 1. Union or connection; the state of touching or contact. "Point of contingency ."

J. Gregory.

2. The quality or state of being contingent or casual; the possibility of coming to pass.

Aristotle says we are not to build certain rules on the contingency of human actions. South.

3. An event which may or may not occur; that which is possible or probable; a fortuitous event; a chance.

The remarkable position of the queen rendering her death a most important contingency . Hallam.

4. An adjunct or accessory.

Wordsworth.

5. (Law) A certain possible event that may or may not happen, by which, when happening, some particular title may be affected.

Syn. -- Casualty; accident; chance.

Contingent <Xpage=313>

Con*tin"gent (?) , a. [L. contingens , -entis , p.pr. of contingere to touch on all sides, to happen; con- + tangere to touch: cf. F. contingent . See Tangent , Tact .] 1. Possible, or liable, but not certain, to occur; incidental; casual.

Weighing so much actual crime against so much contingent advantage. Burke.

2. Dependent on that which is undetermined or unknown; as, the success of his undertaking is contingent upon events which he can not control . "Uncertain and contingent causes."

Tillotson.

3. (Law) Dependent for effect on something that may or may not occur; as, a contingent estate .

If a contingent legacy be left to any one when he attains, or if he attains, the age of twenty-one. Blackstone.

Contingent <Xpage=313>

Con*tin"gent , n. 1. An event which may or may not happen; that which is unforeseen, undetermined, or dependent on something future; a contingency.

His understanding could almost pierce into future contingets . South.

2. That which falls to one in a division or apportionment among a number; a suitable share; proportion; esp., a quota of troops.

From the Alps to the border of Flanders, contingents were required . . . 200,000 men were in arms. Milman.

Contingently <Xpage=313>

Con*tin"gent*ly , adv. In a contingent manner; without design or foresight; accidentally.

Contingentness <Xpage=313>

Con*tin"gent*ness , n. The state of being contingent; fortuitousness.

Continuable <Xpage=313>

Con*tin"u*a*ble (?) , a. Capable of being continued [R.]

Continual <Xpage=313>

Con*tin"u*al (?) , a. [OE. continuel , F. continuel . See Continue .] 1. Proceeding without interruption or cesstaion; continuous; unceasing; lasting; abiding.

He that is of a merry heart hath a continual feast. Prov. xv. 15.

2. Occuring in steady and rapid succession; very frequent; often repeated.

The eye is deligh by a continental succession of small landscapes. W. Irwing.

Continual proportionals (Math.) , quantities in continued proportion.

Brande & C.

Syn. -- Constant; prepetual; incessant; unceasing; uninterrupted; unintermitted; continuous. See Constant , and Continuous .

Continually <Xpage=313>

Con*tin"u*al*ly , adv. 1. Without cessation; unceasingly; continuously; as, the current flows continually .

Why do not all animals continually increase in bigness? Bentley.

2. In regular or repeated succession; very often.

Thou shalt eat bread at my table continually . 2 Sam. ix. 7.

Continuance <Xpage=313>

Con*tin"u*ance (?) , n. [OF. continuance .] 1. A holding on, or remaining in a particular state; permanence, as of condition, habits, abode, etc.; perseverance; constancy; duration; stay.

Great plagues, and of long continuence . Deut. xxviii. 59.

Patient continuance i well-doing. Rom. ii. 7.

2. Uninterrupted succession; continuation; constant renewell; perpetuation; propagation.

The brute immedistely regards his own preservation or the continuance of his species. Addison.

3. A holding together; continuity. [Obs.]

Bacon.

4. (Law) (a) The adjournment of the proceedings in a cause from one day, or from one stated term of a court, to another. (b) The entry of such adjuornment and the grounds thereof on the record.

Continuant <Xpage=313>

Con*tin"u*ant (?) , a. Continuing; prolonged; sustained; as, a continuant sound . -- n. A continuant sound; a letter whose sound may be prolonged.

Continuate <Xpage=313>

Con*tin"u*ate (?) , a. [L. continuatus , p.p. See Continue .] 1. Immediately united together; intimately connocted. [R.]

We are of Him and in Him, even as though our very flesh and bones should be made continuate with his. Hooker.

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2. Uninterrupted; unbroken; continual; continued.

An untirable and continuate goodness. Shak.

Continuation <Xpage=314>

Con*tin`u*a"tion (?) , n. [L. continuatio : cf. F. connuation .] 1. That act or state of continuing; the state of being continued; uninterrupted extension or succession; prolongation; propagation.

Preventing the continuation of the royal line. Macaulay.

2. That which extends, increases, supplements, or carries on; as, the continuation of a story .

My continuation of the version of Statius. Pope.

Continuative <Xpage=314>

Con*tin"u*a*tive (?) , n. [Cf. F. continuatif .] 1. (Logic) A term or expression denoting continuance. [R.]

To these may be added continuatives ; as, Rome remains to this day; which includes, at least, two propositions, viz., Rome was, and Rome is. I. Watts.

2. (Gram.) A word that continues the connection of sentences or subjects; a connective; a conjunction.

Continuatives . . . consolidate sentences into one continuous whole. Harris.

Continuator <Xpage=314>

Con*tin"u*a`tor (?) , n. [Cf. F. continuateur .] One who, or that which, continues; esp., one who continues a series or a work; a continuer.

Sir T. Browne.

Continue <Xpage=314>

Con*tin"ue (?) , v. i. [ imp. & p.p. Continued (?) ; p.pr. & vb.n. Continuing .] [F. continuer , L. continuare , -tinuatum , to connect, continue, fr. continuus . See Continuous , and cf. Continuate .] 1. To remain ina given place or condition; to remain in connection with; to abide; to stay.