Emily Dickinson Lexicon

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.]