Emily Dickinson Lexicon

CON-TEC'TION, n. [L. contego.]

A covering. [Not used.] – Sir T. Browne.

CON-TEMN', v.t. [L. contemno; con and temno, to despise; It. contennere; Ar. ذَأَمَ thauma; to drive away, to despise. Class Dm, No. 1, 4.]

1. To despise; to consider and treat as mean and despicable; to scorn. In whose eyes a vile person is contemned. – Ps. xv.
2. To slight; to neglect as unworthy of regard; to reject with disdain. Wherefore do the wicked contemn God. – Ps. x. They contemn the council of the Most High. – Ps. cvii.

CON-TEM'NED, pp.

Despised; scorned; slighted; neglected, or rejected with disdain.

CON-TEM'NER, n.

One who contemns; a despiser; a scorner.

CON-TEM'NING, ppr.

Despising; slighting as vile or despicable; neglecting or rejecting, as unworthy of regard.

CON-TEM'PER, v.t. [Low L. contempero; con and tempero, to mix or temper. See Temper.]

To moderate; to reduce to a lower degree by mixture with opposite or different qualities; to temper. The leaves qualify and contemper the heat. – Ray.

CON-TEM'PER-A-MENT, n.

Moderated or qualified degree; a degree of any quality reduced to that of another; temperament. – Derham.

CON-TEM'PER-ATE, v.t. [See Contemper.]

To temper; to reduce the quality of, by mixing something opposite or different; to moderate. – Brown. Wiseman.

CON-TEM-PER-A'TION, n.

1. The act of reducing a quality by admixture of the contrary; the act of moderating or tempering. – Brown.
2. Temperament; proportionate mixture; as, the contemperament of humors in different bodies. – Hale. [Instead of these words, temper and temperament are now generally used.]

CON-TEM'PER-A-TURE, n.

Like temperature or temperament.

CON'TEM-PLATE, v.i.

To think studiously; to study; to muse; to meditate; as, he delights to contemplate on the works of creation.

CON'TEM-PLATE, v.t. [L. contemplor. If m is radical, see Class Dm, No. 3, 4, 35.]

1. To view or consider with continued attention; to study; to meditate on. This word expresses the attention of the mind, but sometimes in connection with that of the eyes; as, to contemplate the heavens. More generally, the act of the mind only is intended; as, to contemplate the wonders of redemption; to contemplate the state of the nation and its future prospects. Teach me to contemplate thy grace. – Mrs. Delany.
2. To consider or have in view, in reference to a future act or event; to intend. A decree of the National Assembly of France, June 26, 1792, contemplates a supply from the United States of four millions of livres. There remain some particulars to complete the information contemplated by those resolutions. – Hamilton's Report. If a treaty contains any stipulations which contemplate a state of future war. – Kent's Commentaries.

CON'TEM-PLA-TED, pp.

Considered with attention; meditated on; intended.

CON'TEM-PLA-TING, ppr.

Considering with continued attention; meditating on; musing.

CON-TEM-PLA'TION, n. [L. contemplatio.]

1. The act of the mind in considering with attention; meditation; study; continued attention of the mind to a particular subject. Contemplation is keeping the idea, brought into the mind, some time actually in view. – Locke.
2. Holy meditation; attention to sacred things; a particular application of the foregoing definition. To have in contemplation, to intend or purpose, or to have under consideration.

CON-TEM'PLA-TIST, n.

One who contemplates.

CON-TEM'PLA-TIVE, a.

1. Given to contemplation, or continued application of the mind to a subject; studious; thoughtful; as, a contemplative philosopher, or mind.
2. Employed in study; as, a contemplative life. – Bacon.
3. Having the appearance of study, or a studious habit; as, a contemplative book. – Denham.
4. Having the power of thought or meditation; as, the contemplative faculty of man. – Ray.

CON-TEM'PLA-TIVE-LY, adv.

With contemplation; attentively; thoughtfully; with deep attention.

CON'TEM-PLA-TOR, n.

One who contemplates; one employed in study or meditation; an inquirer after knowledge. – Ralegh. Brown.

CON-TEM-PO-RA'NE-OUS, a. [See Contemporary.]

Living or being at the same time.

CON-TEM-PO-RA'NE-OUS-LY, adv.

At the same time with some other event.

CON-TEM-PO-RA'NE-OUS-NESS, n.

The state or quality of being contemporaneous. – Gliddon.

CON-TEM'PO-RA-RI-NESS, n.

Existence at the same time. – Howell.

CON-TEM'PO-RA-RY, a. [It. Sp. contemporaneo; Fr. contemporain; L. contemparalis; con and temporalis, temporarius, from tempus, time. For the sake of easier pronunciation and a more agreeable sound, this word is often changed to cotemporary, and this is the preferable word.]

Coetaneous; living at the same time, applied to persons; being or existing at the same time, applied to things; as, contemporary kings; contemporary events. [See Cotemporary, the preferable word.]

CON-TEM'PO-RA-RY, n.

One who lives at the same time with another; as, Socrates and Plato were contemporaries.