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An agreement, manifesting itself in words or deeds, by which two or more persons confederate to do an unlawful act, or to use unlawful to do an act which is lawful; confederacy.

A quantity that does not change its value; -- used in countradistinction variable. Absolute costant (Math.), one whose value is absolutely the same under all cirumstanes, as the number 10, or any numeral. -- Arbitrary constant, an undetermined constant in a differential equation having the same value during all change…

blage of splendors or excellences. The constellations of genius had already begun to show itself . . . which was to shed a glory over the meridian and close of Philip's reign. Prescott.

ogether; condensation. [Obs.] Fullness of matter, or a pretty close constipation . . . of its particles. Boyle.

being consistent with the constitution or frame of government, or of being authorized by its provisions. Burke. Constitutionalities, bottomless cavilings and questionings about written laws. Carlyle.

act of constricting by means of some inherent power or by movement or change in the thing itself, as distinguished from compression.

A serpent that kills its prey by inclosing and crushing it with its folds; as, the boa constrictor.

To dawn together; to contract; to force to contract itself; to constrict; to cause to shrink. [R.] Strong liquors . . . intoxicate, constringe, harden the fibers, and coagulate the fluids. Arbuthnot.

for the commercial interests of the citizens of the appointing government, and to protect its seamen. Consul general, a consul of the first rank, stationed in an important place, or having jurisdiction in several places or over several consula. -- Vice consul, a consular officer holding the place of a consul during th…

; end (as of the world or of life). "Tis a consummation Devoutly to be wished. Shak. From its original to its consummation. Addison. Quiet consummation have, And renownShak. Consummation of marrige, completion of the connubial relation by actual cohabition.

er; to allay; to qualify; to moderate; to soften. [Obs.] The antidotes . . . have allayed its bitterness and contempered its malignancy. Johnson.

To look at on all sides or in all its bearings; to view or consider with continued attention; to regard with deliberate care; to meditate on; to study. To love, at least contemplate and admire, What I see excellent. Milton. We thus dilate Our spirits to the size of that they contemplate. Byron.

contemptuous, or insolent language or behavior in presence of a court, tending to disturb its proceedings, or impair the respect due to its authority.

r disdain; mean; vile; despicable. Milton. The arguments of tyranny are ascontemptible as its force is dreadful. Burke.

A point maintained in an argument, or a line of argument taken in its support; the subject matter of discussion of strife; a position taken or contended for. All men seem agreed what is to be done; the contention is how the subject is to be divided and defined. Bagehot. This was my original contention, and I still main…

a text or quoted sentence, or are so intimately associated with it as to throw light upon its meaning. According to all the light that the contexts afford. Sharp.

t seemed contiguous at one of their angles. Sir I. Newton. Sees no contiguous palace rear its head. Goldsmith. Contiguous angles. See Adjacent angles, under Angle.

specifically (Phys. Geog.), a large body of land differing from an island, not merely in its size, but in its structure, which is that of a large basin bordered by mountain chains; as, the continent of North America.

asso continuo. [It.] -- Continued fever (Med.), a fever which presents no interruption in its course. -- Continued fraction (Math.), a fraction whose numerator is 1, and whose denominator is a whole number plus a fraction whose numerator is 1 and whose denominator is a whole number, plus a fraction, and so on. -- Con…

nded; as, a continuous line of railroad; a continuous current of electricity. he can hear its continuous murmur. Longfellow.