Contingent — Defs

01 a. Possible, or liable, but not certain, to occur; incidental; casual.

1.
Possible, or liable, but not certain, to occur; incidental; casual.
“Weighing so much actual crime against so much contingent advantage.” — Burke.
2.
Dependent on that which is undetermined or unknown; as, the success of his undertaking is contingent upon events which he can not control.
3.
Dependent for effect on something that may or may not occur; as, a contingent estate.(Law)
“If a contingent legacy be left to any one when he attains, or if he attains, the age of twenty-one.” — Blackstone.

02 n. An event which may or may not happen; that which is unforeseen, undetermined, or dependent on something future; a contingency.

1.
An event which may or may not happen; that which is unforeseen, undetermined, or dependent on something future; a contingency.
“His understanding could almost pierce into future contingents.” — South.
2.
That which falls to one in a division or apportionment among a number; a suitable share; proportion; esp., a quota of troops.
“From the Alps to the border of Flanders, contingents were required . . . 200,000 men were in arms.” — Milman.