/ · 1894 Brewer’s · C · Contingent (A)
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
The quota of troops furnished by each of several contracting powers, according to agreement. The word properly means the number which falls to the lot of each; hence we call a fortuitous event a contingency.
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Entry taken from Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, edited by the Rev. E. Cobham Brewer, LL.D. and revised in 1895.