[con.tin.gent] adj [ME, fr. MF, fr. L contingent-, contingens, prp. of contingere to have contact with, befall, fr. com- + tangere to touch--more at tangent] (14c) 1: likely but not certain to happen: possible
2: not logically necessary; esp: empirical 3 a: happening by chance or unforeseen causes b: subject to chance or unseen effects: unpredictable c: intended for use in circumstances not completely foreseen
4: dependent on or conditioned by something else
5: not necessitated: determined by free choice syn see accidental -- con.tin.gent.ly adv
[2]contingent n (1548) 1: something contingent: contingency
2: a representative group: delegation, detachment