consumptive 
They that make <-mt*umi'i; ' . .l.l;ilion* to tlii- i Traliuv- ; 
iia the follyridians, who offered i-.-iki-.. and those that 
Inn-lit incense or ( -an. lies I" II"- Virgin Mm v. 
Jer. Taylor, roto<*d 18X i 91 
II. n. One who suffers from consumption, or 
phthisis. Consumptlve's-weed, the War's \\eed .,t 
ralifornia, l-:,'i,"l, /,/!,, n ,i/,, /in,, ,',, i an <-\ rr-ivrii resinous 
shrub, of thr natural order UydnxkyUaeta. 
consumptively (kon-nump'tiv-li), nttr. In a 
consumptive manner; in a way characteristic 
of or tending 1" consumption. 
consumptiveness (kon-sump'tiv-nes), . The 
state of being consumptive, or a tendency to 
consumption. 
consute (kgn-suf), a. JX L. <-<>nxnti<x, pp. of con- 
mtrri; sew together, stitch, < rum-, together, + 
.wr/v = K. xi'ir. \ In riilnm., having one or more 
regular series of slight and somewhat distant 
elevations differing in color from the rest of the 
surface, so as to resemble lines of stitching, as 
the elytra of certain beetles. 
consufilet, " [< L. 'consutitis, sewed together, 
< coiisittiix, pp. of cotixucre, sew together: see 
conttnte.] Stitched together. Bailey. 
contabescence (kon-ta-bes'ens), n. [= F. con- 
tabescenci' ; as coiifttbrxci'iit 4- -': see -i /in . ] 
1. In atccl., a wasting disease; atrophy, maras- 
mus, or consumption. 2. In hot., an abnormal 
condition of flowers, in which the anthers bo- 
come defective -and the pollen becomes inert 
or wanting. 
contabescent (kon-ta-bes'ent), a. [= F. conta- 
bi-xccut, < L. conttibescen(i-)s, ppr. of coiitnb<-x- 
cere, waste away gradually, < cum- (intensive) 
+ tabescere, waste away, < tabes, a wasting: see 
tabes.'] 1. Wasting away. 2. In bot., char- 
acterized by contabescence. 
In several plants, . . . many of the anthers were either 
shrivelled or contained Imiwn and tough or pulpy matter, 
without any good pollen-grains, and they never shed their 
contents ; they were in the state designated by (Jartner as 
cmHabftctnt. Darwin, Different Forms of Flowers, p. 193. 
contabulatet, t'. t. [< L. contabulatus, pp. of 
coiitabulare, cover with boards, < com-, together, 
+ tabula, a board, table : see table, tabulate.] 
To plank or floor with boards. Bailey. Also 
eotabnliiti: 
contabulationt, n. [< L. contabu>atio(n-), < 
coittabiilare, pp. contabulatus, cover with boards: 
see confabulate.] The act of laying with boards, 
or of flooring ; the floor laid. E. Phillips, 1706. 
contackt, n. See conteck. 
contacourt, See conteckour. 
contact (kon'takt), n. [= F. contact = Sp. Pg. 
contacto = It. contatto, < L. cow tuctux, a touching, 
< contingere, pp. contactus, touch closely, < com-, 
together, -I- taut/ere, touch: see tangent, tact, 
and cf. contagion, contiguous, contingent.] 1. 
A touching; touch; the coincidence of one or 
more points on the surface of each of two 
bodies without interpenetration of the bodies ; 
apposition of separate bodies or points without 
sensible intervening space. 
When several metals at the same temperature are sol- 
dered to each other so as to form a continuous chain, the 
difference of potentials of the extreme metals is the same 
as if these two metals are in direct <-"iit<i<-l. 
AUciiuon, tr. of Mascart and Joubert, I. 177. 
2. Specifically, in math., coincidence, as of 
two curves, in two or more consecutive points ; 
the having a point and the tangent plane at 
that point in common. 3. The act of making 
one body abut against another ; the bringing 
together so as to touch. Angle of contact, in 
math., the angle of eontingence or curvature ; the angle 
between a curve and its tangent. Chords of contact. 
See ehonl. Contact action, the action by which a 
(lllHtanee causes changes in other substances which arc 
brought into contact with it, apparently without itself 
taking part in the changes, or at least without l>eing per- 
manently altered by them. Thus, platinum black "ill 
cause a combination between oxygen and hydrogen gases 
when they arc hi ght together with it, but is not itself 
altered. See eatalyiit, '. and eatnliitir. Contact de- 
posit, a metalliferous deposit, or aggregation of ore, usu- 
ally accompanied by more or less veinstone, and oi-cup)- 
ing a portion lirtween or at the junction of two rocks of 
different lithological character. The copper-mines in Con- 
necticut and New Jersey, the first work- .1 in the I'nited 
States, were opened on deposits of this kind, which occu- 
pied a position between the trappean rock and the sand- 
stone, or lietwetii the latter and the undcrlyin;: <i\>Ial 
line masses. - Contact goniometer. See ;"/"'< ... 
Contact of surfaces, contact of plane sections of the 
surfaces ; the existence' of a double point ill the curve of 
mutual intersect! f the surfaces, lint if cither sin fac 
has a double point at the double point of the curve of 
intersection, it is further requisite that the surface not 
having tin 1 double point shall l>e capable of being >0 moved 
that the intersection should begin to move away from tile 
double point by a motion alon>_' that surface. If both snr- 
laccs have double points at the double point of the inter- 
section. < -ontact consists in having the same taimrnt plane 
and the same point of lan.cn, -y. Contact Of the nth 
Order, in math., coincidence of n + 1 consecutive points. 
1221 
Contact of two curves, in utntti.. coincidence of two 
or more of tin -ir , .ni-r.-uin, points. Contact resis- 
tance, in 'I'-i-t., tile resistance due to the want of perfect 
Illlioll I. flu,. !, tu<> rolinrrtni- -lllla.rs ill tllr rilrlllt. 
Contact series of the metals. Sam.- as ,7. .?/.../.'.'. ,-. 
uri - (which sec, under ,/. i /,-../,..,/.>. >. Contact theory 
of electricity. .s-e./.v//-,v//i/. Multiple contact, con- 
tact at many points. Stationary contact of two sur- 
faces, tin- rxistcnce of a stationary point on their cnnc of 
inlci M-rtioii. 
contact (kou'takt), i'. . [< contact, n.] To be 
together or in contact; touch; abut. [Bare.] 
To prevent contact with two or more [electrical! platen 
at tile same time, their, nntariiini portions are so arranged 
that no two consecutive plates are in the same vertical 
line. I'ict. of r.lect., p. 21. 
After the drift has passed once through the hole, It should 
be turned a quarter revolution, and again driven through, 
and then mice more, so that each side of the drift will have 
contacted with each side of the hole. 
J. KOM, Praet. Machinist, p. 328. 
contact-breaker (kon ' takt - bra ' ker), n. In 
elect., a contrivance for breaking and making 
an electrical circuit rapidly and automatically, 
like that used with the induction-coil ; an inter- 
rupter. 
contactiont (kon-tak'shon), . [< L. as if *con- 
tactio(n-), < coil tint/ere, pp. contactus, touch: see 
contact, n.] The act of touching. 
That deleterious it may l>e at some distance, and de- 
structive without corporal cantaction, there is no high Im- 
probability. Kir T. Brotcnc, Vulg. Err. 
contact-level (kon'takt-lev'el), . An instru- 
ment used for determining minute differences in 
length, and consisting of a very delicate spirit- 
level, accurately ground to a curve of given 
radius and pivoted transversely at the middle. 
See contact-lever. 
contact-lever (kon'takt-lev'er), n. A lever 
which is moved bv the abutment of two mea- 
suring-bars, and in moving turns a graduated 
spirit-level, called a contact-lcrcl, by which the 
amount of motion can be measured. contact- 
lever goniometer. See voniometrr. 
contactual (kou-tak'tu-al), a. [< L. contactus 
(coiitactu-), contact, -4- -at. Cf. tactual.] Per- 
taining to contact ; implying contact. 
Contagion may be said to he immediate, contactual, or 
remote. Pop. JSneyc. 
contadina(kon-ta-de'na),M.; pl.cotade(-ne), 
contadinas (-naz). [It., fern, of contadino, q. 
v.] 1. In Italy, a peasant woman; a female 
rustic. 
Happiness to dauce with the contadinas at a village feast. 
Hawthorne, Marble Faun, Ix. 
2. A rustic dance. 
contadino (kon-ta-de'no), n.; pi. contadini(-ne). 
[It., < contado, country, county, shire, =E. coun- 
fyi, q. v.] In Italy, a countryman or peasant ; 
a rustic. 
The produce of the orchard is divided equally between 
contadino and landlord. Kncyc. Brit., XIII. 452, note. 
contagia,". Plural of contagium. 
contagion (kon-ta'jon), n. [= F. contagion = 
Sp. contagion = Pg. contagiffo = It. contagione, 
< L. contagio(n-), also coiitaginm (see contagi- 
um), a touching, contact, particularly contact 
with something unclean or infectious, contami- 
nation, < contingere (contan-), touch: see con- 
tact, contingent.] 1. Infectious contact or com- 
munication ; specifically and commonly, the 
communication of a disease from one person or 
brute to another. A distinction between dintnyiun and 
i/'f' ,-tion is sometimes adopted, tile former lining limited 
to the transmission of disease by actual contact of the dis- 
< as, d part with a healthy absorbent or abraded surface, 
and the latter to transmission through the atmosphere by 
floating germs or miasmata. There are. however, cases of 
transmission which do not fall under either of these divi- 
sions, and there are some which fall under I wit h. In com- 
mon use no precise discrimination of the two words is at- 
tempted. See epidemic and endfmic. 
The miserable prey of the contagion of disease, and the 
worse contagion of vice and sin. 
Stunner, Prison Discipline. 
Hence 2. The communication of a state of 
feeling, particularly of moral feeling, or of ideas, 
from one person to another; especially, the 
communication of moral evil ; propagation of 
mischief; infection: as, the con taginn of enthu- 
siasm ; the contagion of vice or of evil example. 
This Babylonian Idoll whose contayion infected the 
East with a Catholike Idolatrie. 
furchas, Pilgrimage, p. 66. 
The scandal and ctmtayion of example. Bp. Gauden. 
3. Contagium. 4. Pestilential influence; ma- 
larial or poisonous exhalations. 
Will he steal out of his wholesome bed, 
To dare the vile conttifrivn of the niulit '.' 
Slutk.. J. C., ii. 1. 
contain 
From the C Mortality, 
No rliiiii- i- puiv. no Ui : 
c,,ii i,, ... Irint. ..I Horace, II. X!T. 2. 
contagioned (kmi-ta'jond), n. [< mntai/imt + 
-i /'-'. ] . MlVi-ti d' by co'i'itngion. 
Contagionist (koii-ta'joii-i.-t), ii. [= !'. 1'itnlii- 
i/iiiiiinxl< ; as ciiiiliiiiinii + -i.it.~\ One who be- 
lieves in the contagious character of certain 
diseases, as cholera, typhus, etc. 
contagious (kou-ta'jus), a. [= F. contagii-iis 
= Sp. Pg. It. cinitiigioim, < LL. cvittagiomu, con- 
tagious, < L. contagio(n-), contagion: see - 
lui/iiHi.] 1. Communicable by contagion; that 
may be imparted by contact or by emanal ions ; 
catching: as, a contayioux disease. [In this 
sense sometimes distinguished from infectious. 
, 1.] 
In the two and twentieth Year of his (Edward lll.'s] 
Reignarn/i/<//o Pestilence arose in the Kast and South 
Parts of the World, and spread it self all over Christen- 
dom. Bakrr, Chronicles, p. 131. 
The disease [empusa] is contain'oiin, because a healthy 
By coming in contact with a diseased one, from which the 
spore-bearing filaments protrude, is pretty sure t<> carry 
off a spore or two. It is " infectious " because the spores 
become scattered al>ont all sorts of matter in the neigh- 
bourhood of the slain Hies. Huxley, Lay .Sermons, p. 372. 
2. Containing or generating contagion; poison- 
ous; pestilential: as, contagious ait; contagious 
clothing. 
Breathe foul, contagiotu darkness in the air. 
Shale., 2 Hen. VI., IT. 1. 
3. Propagated by influence or incitement} ex- 
citing like feeling or action ; spreading or liable 
to spread from one to another: as, contagious 
example; a contagious speculation. 
The rout 
Of Medea and Cassians carry to the camp 
Contagimu terror. (Jlover, Leonldas. 
Too contayiowt grows the mirth, the warmth 
Escaping from so many hearts at once. 
Browning, King and Book, II. 65. 
4. Arising from or due to contagion, in either 
sense; brought about by propagation or incite- 
ment: as, a contagious epidemic. [Rare.] 
In the morn and liquid dew of youth 
Contagious blastmenU are most Imminent. 
Shot., Hamlet, L 3. 
contagiously (kon-ta'jus-li), adv. By conta- 
gion. 
contagiousness (kon-ta'jus-nes), . The qual- 
ity of being contagious. 
contagium (kon-ta'ji-um), . ; pi. contagia (-8). 
[= F. contage = Sp. Pg. It. contagio, < L. con- 
tagium, a collateral form of contagio(n-), con- 
tagion : see contagion.] 1. Same as contagion. 
2. The morbific matter conveyed from the 
siek to the well in the spread of communicable 
diseases. 
Now ctmtama are living things, which demand certain 
elements of life just as inexorably as trees, or wheat, or 
barley. Tyndall, Int. to Life of Pasteur, p. 35. 
But even the most cleanly people would contract chol- 
era, syphilis, or small-pox, if the eontagiuw were in their 
midst'. The Sanitarian, XV. 21)3. 
contain (kon-tan'), v. [< ME. containcn, con- 
teinen, contenen, contcynen, cunteyncn, < OF. con- 
tcnir, cuntenir, F. contt-nir = Pr. contener, eon- 
tenir = Sp. contener = Pg. confer = It. con tf litre, 
< L. continere, hold or keep together, comprise, 
contain, < com-, together, + triiirc, hold: see 
tenable, tenet, tenure, etc., and cf. detain, pertain, 
retain, sustain. Hence (from L. continere) con- 
tiin'iit, continence, countenance, content 1 , contenft, 
continue, continuous, etc.] I. trans. 1. To hold 
within fixed limits ; comprehend ; comprise ; 
include; hold. 
Behold, the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot con- 
tain thec. 1 Ki. viii. . 
For there be many things which of their own nature 
contain no pleasantness ; yea, the most part of them much 
grief and sorrow. 
Sir T. Hare, Utopia (tr. by Robinson), ii. 7. 
What thy stores contain, bring forth. 
.Wi7!.m, P. L., T. 314. 
I saw an exceeding huge Basiliske, which was so great 
that it would easily contayne the body of a very corpulent 
man. Coryat, Crudities, 1. 125. 
2. To be capable of holding; have, as a vessel, 
an internal volume equal to: as, this vessel con- 
tains two gallons. 3. To comprise, as a writ- 
ing; have as contents. 
Here s another [sonnet] 
Writ In my cousin's hand, stolen from her pocket, 
Containing her affection unto Itencdick. 
Shale.. .Much Ado, v. 4. 
4f. To hold in opinion ; regard (with). 
Who. for the vain assuming* 
Of some, quit* worthless of her sovereign wreaths, 
Contain her worthiest prophets in contempt. 
II. Joiuon, Poetaster, v. 1. 
