in the United. States.of America. | 469 
it.is the sie I,believe, that in many.,of.the.cities, bor oughs, and, other lo- 
cal jurisdictions in England, they.h peace-officers called constables, whose 
Ps i ee & aS: 
powers are not EE if at all, different from those of our constables. 
CONSTERNATED.  Inever met.with.this. uncommon word.in the writings of 
Americans, except in the following instance: “When it was. found. that 
General Hampton was not. at St. Regis, his place of rendezvous, all_ranks 
were consternated.” Letter from an officer in Gen, Wilkinson’s army, in 
Dec. 1813. The only English dictionary, in which I find it, is 4sh’s, and 
it is there said to be “ mot sufficiently authorised.” 
CONSTITUTED AUTHORITIES; the officers of’ government collectively, 
in a kingdom, city, town, &c. This expression has been adopted by some 
of our writers from the vocabulary of the French Revolution. “ Neither 
could he perceive danger to liberty except from the constituted authorities, 
and especially from the executive.” Marsh. Life of Washing. vol. v. p. 
354, The English have used it only in translations from the French. 
_CONSTITUTIONALITY ; “ the state of being agreeable to the constitution, 
, 
or of affecting the constitution.” Webst. “ The argument upon this ques- 
tion has naturally divided into two parts, the one of expediency, the other 
of constitutionality.” Debates in Congress, on the Judiciary bill in 1802, 
p. 76. 
This word is not in Johnson nor Mason ; nor have I been able to find 
itin any other English dictionary. Ido not recollect it in any English pub- 
lications. The adjective constitutional is used in England as well as in this 
country. 
CONTEMPLATION. A distinguished foreigner, who resided in England 
many years, and is well acquainted with the language, upon his arrival in 
this country was ‘struck with the frequent recurrence of this word i in con- 
- yersation ; as, “I have it in contemplation to do sucha thing, for I intend to 
dosuch a thing.” The expression is not uncommon in English writings, 
though I do not recollect it in conversation, 
To CONTRIVE. Dr. Witherspoon has the following remarks on a singular 
use of this word; “ I wish we could contrive it to Philadelphia. The words 
_ #0 carry, to have it carried, or some such, are wanting. Itisa defective 
23 
