Contadina, kon-ta-dē′na, n. an Italian peasant woman:—pl. Contadi′ne (-ne), Contadi′nas. [It.]
Contagion, kon-tā′jun, n. transmission of a disease from the sick to the healthy, either by direct contact of a part affected with the disease, or through the medium of the excretions or exhalations of the body.—n. Contā′gionist, one who believes that certain diseases are contagious.—adj. Contā′gious, that may be communicated by contact.—adv. Contā′giously.—ns. Contā′giousness; Contā′gium, the supposed morbific matter by means of which disease spreads.—Contagious Diseases Acts, a series of laws passed in 1865 and succeeding years for the better regulation of prostitutes in certain seaport and military towns. [L. contagion-em—con, together, tangĕre, to touch.]
Contain, kon-tān′, v.t. to comprise, to include: (B.) to restrain, esp. the sexual appetite.—adj. Contain′able, that may be contained.—ns. Contain′ant, Contain′er. [Through Fr. from L. continēre—con, together, tenēre, to hold.]
Contaminate, kon-tam′i-nāt, v.t. to defile by touching or mixing with: to pollute: to corrupt: to infect.—adj. Contam′inable.—n. Contaminā′tion, pollution.—adj. Contam′inative. [L. contamināre, -ātum—contamen (for contagmen), pollution. See Contact.]
Contango, kon-tang′go, n. a percentage paid by the buyer to the seller of stock for keeping back its delivery to the next settling-day, continuation—opp. to Backwardation. [From Continue.]
Conteck, kon′tek, n. (Spens.). Same as Contest. [O. Fr. contek, prob. conn. with contekier, to touch.]
Contemn, kon-tem′, v.t. to despise: to neglect, to disregard.—n. Contem′ner. [Fr.,—L. contemnĕre, -temptum, to value little—con, inten., temnĕre, to slight.]
Contemper, kon-temp′ėr, v.t. to blend together, to qualify by mixture: to adapt to anything.—ns. Contemperā′tion (obs.), Contem′perature. [L. contemperāre.]
Contemplate, kon′tem-plāt, or kon-tem′plāt, v.t. to consider or look at attentively: to meditate on or study: to intend.—v.i. to think seriously: to meditate (with on, upon).—adj. Contemp′lable.—ns. Contem′plant, Contemp′latist; Contemplā′tion, continued study of a particular subject: a meditation written, or a subject for such.—adj. and n. Contem′plative, given to contemplation.—adv. Contem′platively.—ns. Contem′plativeness; Con′templātor, one who contemplates: a student. [L. contemplāri, -ātus, to mark out carefully a templum or place for auguries—con, sig. completeness, and templum. See Consider and Temple.]
Contemporaneous, kon-tem-po-rā′ne-us, adj. living, happening, or being at the same time.—n. Contemporanē′ity (geol.), does not imply that two systems were precisely synchronous, but merely that each occupies the same relative position in the succession of systems.—adv. Contemporā′neously.—ns. Contemporā′neousness; Contem′porariness.—adj. Contem′porary, contemporaneous, occupying the same period (with).—n. one who lives at the same time: a rival newspaper or magazine.—v.t. Contem′porise, to make contemporary in mind. [L. con, together, and temporaneus—tempus, time.]