Emily Dickinson Lexicon

CON-TRI-BU'TION, n.

1. The act of giving to a common stock, or in common with others; the act of lending a portion of power or influence to a common purpose; the payment of each man's share of some common expense.
2. That which is given to a common stock or purpose, either by an individual or by many. We speak of the contribution of one person, or the contribution of a society. Contributions are involuntary, as taxes and imposts; or voluntary, as for some undertaking.
3. In a military sense, impositions paid by a frontier country, to secure themselves from being plundered by the enemy's army; or impositions upon a country in the power of an enemy, which are levied under various pretenses, and for various purposes, usually for the support of the army.