Chapter Consummately to Contemplative of C by Webster's Dictionary (1913 Edition)

hidden influence, like the miasma of prison ships, of marshes, etc., infecting the system with disease. "This distinction, though not universally admitted by medical men, as to the literal meaning of the words, certainly applies to them in their figurative use. Thus we speak of the contagious influence of evil associates; their contagion of bad example, the contagion of fear, etc., when we refer to transmission by proximity or contact. On the other hand, we speak of infection by bad principles, etc., when we consider anything as diffused by some hidden influence.

Contagiously
(Con*ta"gious*ly), adv. In a contagious manner.

Contagiousness
(Con*ta"gious*ness), n. Quality of being contagious.

Contagium
(||Con*ta"gi*um) n. [L.] Contagion; contagious matter. "Contagium of measles." Tyndall.

Contain
(Con*tain") v. t. [imp. & p. p. Contained ; p. pr. & vb. n. Containing.] [OE. contenen, conteinen, F. contenir, fr. L. continere, -tentum; con- + tenere to hold. See Tenable, and cf. Countenance.]

1. To hold within fixed limits; to comprise; to include; to inclose; to hold.

Behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens can not contain thee; how much less this house!
2 Chron. vi. 18.

When that this body did contain a spirit.
Shak.

What thy stores contain bring forth.
Milton.

2. To have capacity for; to be able to hold; to hold; to be equivalent to; as, a bushel contains four pecks.

3. To put constraint upon; to restrain; to confine; to keep within bounds. [Obs., exept as used reflexively.]

The king's person contains the unruly people from evil occasions.
Spenser.

Fear not, my lord: we can contain ourselves.
Shak.

Contain
(Con*tain"), v. i. To restrain desire; to live in continence or chastity.

But if they can not contain, let them marry.
1 Cor. vii. 9.

Containable
(Con*tain"a*ble) a. Capable of being contained or comprised. Boyle.

Containant
(Con*tain"ant) n. A container.

Container
(Con*tain"er) n. One who, or that which, contains.

Containment
(Con*tain"ment) n. That which is contained; the extent; the substance. [Obs.]

The containment of a rich man's estate.
Fuller.

Contaminable
(Con*tam"i*na*ble) a. Capable of being contaminated.

Contaminate
(Con*tam"i*nate) v. t. [imp. & p. p. Contaminated ; p. pr. & vb. n. Contaminating ] [L. contaminatus, p. p. of contaminare to bring into contact, to contaminate, fr. contamen contagion, for contagmen; con- + root of tangere to touch. See Contact.] To soil, stain, or corrupt by contact; to tarnish; to sully; to taint; to pollute; to defile.

Shall we now
Contaminate our figures with base bribes?
Shak.

I would neither have simplicity imposed upon, nor virtue contaminated.
Goldsmith.