English Dictionary: contingent | by the DICT Development Group |
4 results for contingent | |
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]: | |
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From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: | |
Use \Use\, n. [OE. us use, usage, L. usus, from uti, p. p. usus, to use. See {Use}, v. t.] 1. The act of employing anything, or of applying it to one's service; the state of being so employed or applied; application; employment; conversion to some purpose; as, the use of a pen in writing; his machines are in general use. Books can never teach the use of books. --Bacon. This Davy serves you for good uses. --Shak. When he framed All things to man's delightful use. --Milton. 2. Occasion or need to employ; necessity; as, to have no further use for a book. --Shak. 3. Yielding of service; advantage derived; capability of being used; usefulness; utility. God made two great lights, great for their use To man. --Milton. 'T is use alone that sanctifies expense. --Pope. 4. Continued or repeated practice; customary employment; usage; custom; manner; habit. Let later age that noble use envy. --Spenser. How weary, stale, flat and unprofitable, Seem to me all the uses of this world! --Shak. 5. Common occurrence; ordinary experience. [R.] O C[91]sar! these things are beyond all use. --Shak. 6. (Eccl.) The special form of ritual adopted for use in any diocese; as, the Sarum, or Canterbury, use; the Hereford use; the York use; the Roman use; etc. From henceforth all the whole realm shall have but one use. --Pref. to Book of Common Prayer. 7. The premium paid for the possession and employment of borrowed money; interest; usury. [Obs.] Thou art more obliged to pay duty and tribute, use and principal, to him. --Jer. Taylor. 8. [In this sense probably a corruption of OF. oes, fr. L. opus need, business, employment, work. Cf. {Operate}.] (Law) The benefit or profit of lands and tenements. Use imports a trust and confidence reposed in a man for the holding of lands. He to whose use or benefit the trust is intended shall enjoy the profits. An estate is granted and limited to A for the use of B. 9. (Forging) A stab of iron welded to the side of a forging, as a shaft, near the end, and afterward drawn down, by hammering, so as to lengthen the forging. {Contingent}, [or] {Springing}, {use} (Law), a use to come into operation on a future uncertain event. {In use}. (a) In employment; in customary practice observance. (b) In heat; -- said especially of mares. --J. H. Walsh. {Of no use}, useless; of no advantage. {Of use}, useful; of advantage; profitable. {Out of use}, not in employment. {Resulting use} (Law), a use, which, being limited by the deed, expires or can not vest, and results or returns to him who raised it, after such expiration. {Secondary}, [or] {Shifting}, {use}, a use which, though executed, may change from one to another by circumstances. --Blackstone. {Statute of uses} (Eng. Law), the stat. 27 Henry VIII., cap. 10, which transfers uses into possession, or which unites the use and possession. {To make use of}, {To put to use}, to employ; to derive service from; to use. | |
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: | |
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. | |
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: | |
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. [bd]Uncertain and contingent causes.[b8] --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. |