— contingently , adv.
/keuhn tin"jeuhnt/ , adj.
1. dependent for existence, occurrence, character, etc., on something not yet certain; conditional (often fol. by on or upon ): Our plans are contingent on the weather.
2. liable to happen or not; uncertain; possible: They had to plan for contingent expenses.
3. happening by chance or without known cause; fortuitous; accidental: contingent occurrences.
4. Logic. (of a proposition) neither logically necessary nor logically impossible, so that its truth or falsity can be established only by sensory observation.
n.
5. a quota of troops furnished.
6. any one of the representative groups composing an assemblage: the New York contingent at a national convention.
7. the proportion that falls to one as a share to be contributed or furnished.
8. something contingent; contingency.
[ 1350-1400; late ME (prp.) ( contingent- (s. of contingens, prp. of contingere ), equiv. to con- CON- + ting-, var. s. of tangere to touch + -ent- -ENT ]