Emily Dickinson Lexicon

CON-TIN'GENCE, or CON-TIN'GEN-CY, n. [L. contingens; contingo, to fall or happen to; con and tango, to touch. See Touch.]

1. The quality of being contingent or casual; a happening; or the possibility of coming to pass. We are not to build certain rules on the contingency of human actions. – South.
2. Casualty; accident; fortuitous event. The success of the attempt will depend on contingencies. [See Accident and Casualty.]