Chapter 74

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.

Con*struc"tion*al (?), a. Pertaining to, or deduced from, construction or interpretation.

Con*struc"tion*ist, n. 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.

Con*struct"ive (?), a. [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.

Con*struct"ive*ly, adv. 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.

Con*struct"ive*ness, n. 1. Tendency or ability to form or construct.

2. (Phren.) The faculty which enables one to construct, as in mechanical, artistic, or literary matters.

Con*struct"or (?), n. [Cf. LL. constructor.] A constructer.

Con*struc"ture (?; 135), n. That which is constructed or formed; an edifice; a fabric. [Obs.]

Con*strue (?; Archaic ?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Construed (#); p. pr. & vb. n. Construing (#).] [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.

Con"stu*prate (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Construprated; p. p. & vb. n. Constuprating.] [L. constupratus, p. p. of constuprare to ravish; con- + stuprare to ravish, stuprum rape.] To ravish; to debauch. Burton.

Con`stu*pra"tion (?), n. The act of ravishing; violation; defilement. Bp. Hall.

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

Con`sub*stan"tial*ism (?), n. The doctrine of consubstantiation.

Con`sub*stan"tial*ist, n. One who believes in consubstantiation. Barrow.

Con`sub*stan"ti*al"i*ty (?; 106), n. [Cf. F. consubstantialitÚ.] Participation of the same nature; coexistence in the same substance. "His [the Son's] . . . consubstantiality with the Father." Hammend.

Con`sub*stan"tial*ly (?), adv. In a consubstantial manner; with identity of substance or nature.

Con`sub*stan"ti*ate (?; 106), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Consubstantiated; p. pr. & vb. n. Consubstantiating.] 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.

Con`sub*stan"ti*ate, v. i. To profess or belive the doctrine of consubstantion.

The consubstantiating church and priest. Dryden.

Con`sub*stan"ti*ate (?), a. Partaking of the same substance; united; consubstantial.

We must love her [the wife] that is thus consubstantiate with us. Feltham.

Con`sub*stan`ti*a"tion (?; 106), n. 1. An identity or union of substance.

2. (Theol.) 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.

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

Con"sue*tude (?; 144), n. [L. consuetudo. See Custom.] Custom, habit; usage. [R.]

To observe this consuetude or law. Barnes.

Con`sue*tu"di*nal (?), a. [LL. consuetudinalis.] According to custom; customary; usual. [R.]

Con`sue*tu"di*na"ry (?), a. [LL. consuetudinarius.] Customary.

Con`sue*tu"di*na*ry (?), n.; pl. Consuetudinaries (&?;). A manual or ritual of customary devotional exercises.

Con"sul (k&obreve;n"sŭl), n. [L., prob. fr. consulere to deliberate. See Consult.] 1. (Rom. Antiq.) One of the two chief magistrates of the republic.

&fist; 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.) One of the three chief magistrates of France from 1799 to 1804, who were called, respectively, first, second, and third consul.

4. An official commissioned 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 consuls. -- Vice consul, a consular officer holding the place of a consul during the consul's absence or after he has been relieved.

Con"sul*age (?), n. (Com.) A duty or tax paid by merchants for the protection of their commerce by means of a consul in a foreign place.

Con"su*lar (?), a. [L. consularis; cf. F. consulaire.] Of or pertaining to a consul; performing the duties of a consul; as, consular power; consular dignity; consular officers.

Con"su*la"ry (?), a. Consular. [Obs.] Holland.

Con"su*late (?), n. [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.

Con"sul*ship (?), n. 1. The office of a consul; consulate.

2. The term of office of a consul.

Con*sult" (k&obreve;n*sŭlt"), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Consulted; p. pr. & vb. n. Consulting.] [L. consultare, fr. consulere to consult: cf. f. consulter. Cf. Counsel.] To seek the opinion or advice of another; to take counsel; 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.

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 forgot, or feared, to consult nature . . . ; they were content to consult libraries. 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 house by cutting off many people. Hab. ii. 10.

Con*sult" (k&obreve;n*sŭlt" or k&obreve;n"sŭlt), 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.

Con*sult"a*ry (k&obreve;n*sŭlt"&adot;*r&ybreve;), a. Formed by consultation; resulting from conference.

Consultary response (Law), the opinion of a court on a special case. Wharton.

Con`sul*ta"tion (?), n. [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.

Con*sult"a*tive (k&obreve;n*sŭlt"&adot;*t&ibreve;v), a. Pertaining to consultation; having the privilege or right of conference. "A consultative . . . power." Abp. Bramhall.

Con*sult"a*to*ry (k&obreve;n*sŭlt"&adot;*t&osl;*r&ybreve;), a. Formed by, or resulting from, consultation; advisory. Bancroft.

Con*sult"er (k&obreve;n*sŭlt"&etilde;r), n. One who consults, or asks counsel or information.

Con*sult"ing, a. That consults.

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

Con*sult"ive (k&obreve;n*sŭlt"&ibreve;v), a. 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.

Con*sum"a*ble (k&obreve;n*sūm"&adot;*b'l), a. Capable of being consumed; that may be destroyed, dissipated, wasted, or spent. "Consumable commodities." Locke.

Con*sume" (k&obreve;n*sūm"), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Consumed (- sūmd"); p. pr. & vb. n. Consuming.] [L. consumere to take wholly or completely, to consume; con- + sumere to take; sub + emere to buy. See Redeem.] 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.

Con*sume" (k&obreve;n*sūm"), v. i. To waste away slowly.

Therefore, let Benedick, like covered fire, Consume away in sighs. Shak.

Con*sum"ed*ly (?), adv. Excessively. [Low]

He's so consumedly proud of it. Thackeray.

Con*sum"er (-&etilde;r), n. One who, or that which, consumes; as, the consumer of food.

Con*sum"ing*ly, adv. In a consuming manner.

Con*sum"mate (-sŭm"m&asl;t), a. [L. consummatus, p. p. or consummare to accomplish, sum up; con- + summa sum. See Sum.] 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

Con"sum*mate (k&obreve;n"sŭm*māt or k&obreve;n*sŭm"māt; 277), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Consummated (-mā`t&ebreve;d); p. pr. & vb. n. Consummating (-mā`t&ibreve;ng).] 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.

Con*sum"mate*ly (?), adv. In a consummate manner; completely. T. Warton.

Con`sum*ma"tion (k&obreve;n`sŭm*mā"shŭn), n. [L. consummatio.] The act of consummating, or the state of being consummated; completion; perfection; termination; end (as of the world or of life).

"'T is a consummation Devoutly to be wished. Shak.

From its original to its consummation. Addison.

Quiet consummation have, And renownÚd be thy grave. Shak.

Consummation of marriage, completion of the connubial relation by actual cohabition.

Con*sum"ma*tive (?), a. Serving to consummate; completing. "The final, the consummative procedure of philosophy." Sir W. Hamilton.

Con*sump"tion (?; 215), n. [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.) 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.

Con*sump"tive (?), a. [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.) Affected with, or inclined to, consumption.

The lean, consumptive wench, with coughs decayed. Dryden.

Con*sump"tive, n. One affected with consumption; as, a resort for consumptives.

Con*sump"tive*ly, adv. In a way tending to or indication consumption. Beddoes.

Con*sump"tive*ness, n. A state of being consumptive, or a tendency to a consumption.

Con`ta*bes"cent (?), a. [L. contabescenc, p. pr. of contabescere.] Wasting away gradually. Darwin.

-- Con*ta*bes"cence (#), n.

Con"tact (k&obreve;n"tăkt), n. [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.) The property of two curves, or surfaces, which meet, and at the point of meeting have a common direction.

3. (Mining) 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.

Con*tac"tion (-tăk"shŭn), n. Act of touching. [Obs.]

Con*ta"gion (-tā"jŭn), n. [L. contagio: cf. F. contagion. See Contact.] 1. (Med.) The transmission of a disease from one person to another, by direct or indirect contact.

&fist; 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.

Con*ta"gioned (?), a. Affected by contagion.

Con*ta"gion*ist, n. One who believes in the contagious character of certain diseases, as of yellow fever.

Con*ta"gious (?), a. [L. contagiosus: cf. F. contagieux.] 1. (Med.) 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 been 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.

Con*ta"gious*ly, adv. In a contagious manner.

Con*ta"gious*ness, n. Quality of being contagious.

||Con*ta"gi*um (?), n. [L.] Contagion; contagious matter. "Contagium of measles." Tyndall.

Con*tain" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Contained (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Containing.] [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.

Con*tain", v. i. To restrain desire; to live in continence or chastity.

But if they can not contain, let them marry. 1 Cor. vii. 9.

Con*tain"a*ble (?), a. Capable of being contained or comprised. Boyle.

Con*tain"ant (?), n. A container.

Con*tain"er (?), n. One who, or that which, contains.

Con*tain"ment (?), n. That which is contained; the extent; the substance. [Obs.]

The containment of a rich man's estate. Fuller.

Con*tam"i*na*ble (k&obreve;n*tăm"&ibreve;*n&adot;*b'l), a. Capable of being contaminated.

Con*tam"i*nate (k&obreve;n*tăm"&ibreve;*nāt), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Contaminated (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Contaminating (?).] [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.] 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.

Con*tam"i*nate (-n&asl;t), a. Contaminated; defiled; polluted; tainted. "Contaminate drink." Daniel.

Con*tam`i*na"tion (k&obreve;n*tăm`&ibreve;*nā"shŭn), n. [L. contaminatio.] The act or process of contaminating; pollution; defilement; taint; also, that which contaminates.

Con*tam"i*tive (k&obreve;n*tăm"&ibreve;*n&adot;*t&ibreve;v), a. Tending or liable to contaminate.

Con*tan"go (k&obreve;n*tă&nsm;"g&osl;), n.; pl. Contangoes (#). [Prob. a corruption of contingent.] 1. (Stock Exchange) 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) The postponement of payment by the buyer of stock on the payment of a premium to the seller. See Backwardation. N. Biddle.

Con*tec"tion (-t&ebreve;k"shŭn), n. [L. contegere, -tectum, to cover up.] A covering. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.

Con"tek (k&obreve;n"t&ebreve;k), n. [OE. conteck, conteke, contake, perh. a corruption either of contact or contest.] 1. Quarrel; contention; contest. [Obs.]

Contek with bloody knife. Chaucer.

2. Contumely; reproach. [Obs.] Wyclif.

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

Con*tem"ner (k&obreve;n*t&ebreve;m"n&etilde;r or -t&ebreve;m"&etilde;r), n. One who contemns; a despiser; a scorner. "Contemners of the gods." South.

Con*tem"ning*ly, adv. Contemptuously. [R.]

Con*tem"per (k&obreve;n*t&ebreve;m"p&etilde;r), v. t. [L. contemperare, - temperatum; con- + temperare to temper. Cf. Contemperate.] To modify or temper; to allay; to qualify; to moderate; to soften. [Obs.]

The antidotes . . . have allayed its bitterness and contempered its malignancy. Johnson.

Con*tem"per*ate (k&obreve;n*t&ebreve;m"p&etilde;r*āt), v. t. [See Contemper.] To temper; to moderate. [Obs.]

Moisten and contemperate the air. Sir T. Browne.

Con*tem`per*a"tion (-ā"shŭn), n. 1. The act of tempering or moderating. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.

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

Con*tem"per*a*ture (- t&ebreve;m"p&etilde;r*&adot;*t&usl;r; 135), n. The condition of being tempered; proportionate mixture; temperature. [Obs.]

The different contemperature of the elements. South.

Con*tem"plance (?), n. Contemplation. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Con*tem"plant (?), a. [L. contemplans, p. pr.] Given to contemplation; meditative. [R.] Coleridge.

Con"tem*plate (?; 277), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Contemplated (# or #); p. pr. & vb. n. Contemplating.] [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.

Con"tem*plate, v. i. To consider or think studiously; to ponder; to reflect; to muse; to meditate.

So many hours must I contemplate. Shak.

Con`tem*pla"tion (?), n. [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.