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contingent - 6 dictionary results

con⋅tin⋅gent

  [kuhn-tin-juhnt]
Use contingent in a Sentence
–adjective
1. dependent for existence, occurrence, character, etc., on something not yet certain; conditional (often fol. by on or upon): Our plans are contingent on the weather.
2. liable to happen or not; uncertain; possible: They had to plan for contingent expenses.
3. happening by chance or without known cause; fortuitous; accidental: contingent occurrences.
4. Logic. (of a proposition) neither logically necessary nor logically impossible, so that its truth or falsity can be established only by sensory observation.
–noun
5. a quota of troops furnished.
6. any one of the representative groups composing an assemblage: the New York contingent at a national convention.
7. the proportion that falls to one as a share to be contributed or furnished.
8. something contingent; contingency.
Origin:
1350–1400; late ME (prp.) (< MF) < L contingent- (s. of contingēns, prp. of contingere), equiv. to con- con- + ting-, var. s. of tangere to touch + -ent- -ent

Related forms:
con⋅tin⋅gent⋅ly, adverb
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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con·tin·gent   (kən-tĭn'jənt)   
adj.  
  1. Liable to occur but not with certainty; possible: "All salaries are reckoned on contingent as well as on actual services" (Ralph Waldo Emerson).
  2. Dependent on conditions or occurrences not yet established; conditional: arms sales contingent on the approval of Congress. See Synonyms at dependent.
  3. Happening by chance or accident; fortuitous. See Synonyms at accidental.
  4. Logic True only under certain conditions; not necessarily or universally true: a contingent proposition.
n.  
  1. An event or condition that is likely but not inevitable.
  2. A share or quota, as of troops, contributed to a general effort.
  3. A representative group forming part of an assemblage.

[Middle English, from Latin contingēns, contingent-, present participle of contingere, to touch; see contact.]
con·tin'gent·ly adv.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Contingent

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

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.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Language Translation for : contingent
Spanish: contingente,
German: das Truppenkontingent,
Japanese: 分遣隊
More Translations »

contingent 
c.1385, from L. contingentem (nom. contingens) "happening, touching," prp. of contingere "to touch" (see contact). Contingency "uncertain incident" is from c.1626.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Main Entry: con·tin·gent
Pronunciation: k&n-'tin-j&nt
Function: adjective
1 : likely but not certain to happen —compare EXECUTORY
2 : intended for use in circumstances not completely foreseen contingent fund>
3 : dependent on or conditioned by something else contingent claim> contingent on the marriage> —compare VESTED
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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