Part 515

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.

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

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

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

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.

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.

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 contingents. 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.

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

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

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

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.