CONTINGENCY
Con*tin"gen*cy, n,; pl. Contingencies. Etym: [Cf. F. contingence.]
1. Union or connection; the state of touching or contact. "Point of contingency." J. Gregory.
2. The quality or state of being contingent or casual; the possibility of coming to pass. Aristotle says we are not to build certain rules on the contingency of human actions. South.
3. An event which may or may not occur; that which is possible or probable; a fortuitous event; a chance. The remarkable position of the queen rendering her death a most important contingency. Hallam.
4. An adjunct or accessory. Wordsworth.
5. (Law)
Defn: A certain possible event that may or may not happen, by which, when happening, some particular title may be affected.
Syn.
— Casualty; accident; chance.
CONTINGENT Con*tin"gent, a. Etym: [L. contingens, -entis, p.pr. of contingere to touch on all sides, to happen; con- + tangere to touch: cf. F. contingent. See Tangent, Tact.]
1. Possible, or liable, but not certain, to occur; incidental;
casual.
Weighing so much actual crime against so much contingent advantage.
Burke.