Part 2351

<p><b>2.</b> <def>One of the grand divisions of land on the globe; the main land; specifically <fld>(Phys. Geog.)</fld>, 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>as, the <ex>continent</ex> of North America</as>.</def>

<note>&hand; The <i>continents</i> 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 <i>continent</i>; the <i>continent</i> of Greenland. Europe, Asia, and Africa are often grouped together as the <i>Eastern Continent</i>, and North and South America as the <i>Western Continent</i>.</note>

<cs><col>The Continent</col>, <cd>the main land of Europe, as distinguished from the islands, especially from England.</cd></cs>

<h1>Continental</h1> <Xpage=313>

<hw>Con`ti*nen"tal</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <p><b>1.</b> <def>Of or pertaining to a continent.</def>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>Of or pertaining to the main land of Europe, in distinction from the adjacent islands, especially England; <as>as, a <ex>continental</ex> tour; a <ex>continental</ex> coalition.</as></def>

<i>Macaulay.</i>

<blockquote>No former king had involved himself so frequently in the labyrinth of <b>continental</b> alliances.

<i>Hallam.</i>

<p><b>3.</b> <fld>(Amer. Hist.)</fld> <def>Of or pertaining to the confederated colonies collectively, in the time of the Revolutionary War; <as>as, <ex>Continental</ex> money</as>.</def>

<blockquote>The army before Boston was designated as the <b>Continental</b> army, in contradistinction to that under General Gage, which was called the "Ministerial army." <i>W. Irving.</i></blockquote>

<cs><col>Continental Congress</col>. <cd>See under <er>Congress</er>.</cd> -- <col>Continental system</col> <fld>(Hist.)</fld>, <cd>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.</cd></cs>

<h1>Continental</h1> <Xpage=313>

<hw>Con`ti*nen"tal</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <fld>(Amer. Hist.)</fld> <def>A soldier in the Continental army, or a piece of the Continental currency. See <er>Continental</er>, <tt>a.</tt>, 3.</def>

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

<h1>Continently</h1> <Xpage=313>

<hw>Con"ti*nent*ly</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>adv.</tt> <def>In a continent manner; chastely; moderately; temperately.</def>

<h1>Contingence</h1> <Xpage=313>

<hw>Con*tin"gence</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <def>See <er>Contingency</er>.</def>

<h1>Contingency</h1> <Xpage=313>

<hw>Con*tin"gen*cy</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n</tt>,; <plu>pl. <plw>Contingencies</plw> <tt>(#)</tt></plu>. <ety>[Cf. F. <ets>contingence</ets>.]</ety> <p><b>1.</b> <def>Union or connection; the state of touching or contact.</def> "Point of <i>contingency</i>."

<i>J. Gregory.</i>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>The quality or state of being contingent or casual; the possibility of coming to pass.</def>

<blockquote>Aristotle says we are not to build certain rules on the <b>contingency</b> of human actions. <i>South.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>3.</b> <def>An event which may or may not occur; that which is possible or probable; a fortuitous event; a chance.</def>

<blockquote>The remarkable position of the queen rendering her death a most important <b>contingency</b>. <i>Hallam.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>4.</b> <def>An adjunct or accessory.</def>

<i>Wordsworth.</i>