English
Etymology
From earlier contributary, from Middle English contributarie, from con- + tributarie after Middle French contributaire.
Pronunciation
- (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ˈkɒntɹɪˌbjuːt(ə)ɹi/, /kənˈtɹɪbjʊt(ə)ɹi/, /kənˈtɹɪbjət(ə)ɹi/
- (General American) IPA(key): /ˈkɑntɹɪbjəˌtɔɹi/, /kənˈtrɪbjəˌtɔɹi/
Adjective
contributory (comparative more contributory, superlative most contributory)
- Of, pertaining to, or involving a contribution.
- Tending to contribute to a result.
- (obsolete) Paying tribute, tributary.
- c. 1587–1588, [Christopher Marlowe], Tamburlaine the Great. […] The First Part […], 2nd edition, part 1, London: […] [R. Robinson for] Richard Iones, […], published 1592, →OCLC; reprinted as Tamburlaine the Great (A Scolar Press Facsimile), Menston, Yorkshire, London: Scolar Press, 1973, →ISBN, Act III, scene iii:
- My Lord the great Commander of the worlde,
Besides fifteene contributory kings,
Hath now in armes ten thouſand Ianiſaries,
Mounted on luſty Mauritanian Steeds, […]
Derived terms
Translations
contributing to a result
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Noun
contributory (plural contributories)
- A person or thing that contributes.
- 1947 January and February, Cecil J. Allen, “British Locomotive Practice and Performance”, in Railway Magazine, page 39:
- The response to firing is remarkable, and though the 280 lb. pressure seems more in the nature of a reserve for emergencies than a continuous working figure, even with the present-day apology for coal it seldom fell below 250 lb., and could always be brought up to blowing-off point with little difficulty. To this liveliness of steaming the thermic syphons are doubtless the chief contributory.