contingent

Where does the word "contingent" come from? It comes from Latin contingere, passing through Latin before entering English (1300s).

Contingent’s story begins in Latin: contingere meant “to touch on all sides, to happen.” To touch on all sides, to happen, from com- (together) and tangere (to touch). Within Latin, it grew into contingens by ancient. Happening by chance, dependent on circumstance, present participle of contingere. It reached English by 1300s as contingent. Settled as the English word for something dependent on circumstances, or a group representing a larger body. Today, contingent means dependent on circumstances not yet certain, or a group representing a larger body.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient contingere "to touch on all sides, to happen", to touch on all sides, to happen, from com- (together) and tangere (to touch).
2. Stage 2 · Latin · ancient contingens "happening by chance, dependent on circumstance", happening by chance, dependent on circumstance, present participle of contingere.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1300s contingent "dependent on circumstances, or a group representing a larger body", settled as the English word for something dependent on circumstances, or a group representing a larger body.