contributionn.
/ˌkɒntrᵻˈbjuːʃn/, U.S. /ˌkɑntrəˈbjuʃən/ 1.
a. The action of contributing or giving as one's part to a common fund or stock; the action of lending aid or agency to bring about a result.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > possession > giving > [noun] > contributing
contribution1582
1582 Bible (Rheims) Rom. xv. 26 To make some contribution vpon [1611 to make a certaine contribution for] the poore sainctes that are in Hierusalem.
1616 J. Bullokar Eng. Expositor Contribution, a giuing with others, when many giue together.
1637 R. Humfrey tr. St. Ambrose Christian Offices i. 56 Who is much in contribution and distribution of that hee possesseth.
1701 London Gaz. No. 3753/8 Notice..by the Office of Insurance from Fire by Amicable Contribution.
1776 A. Smith Inq. Wealth of Nations I. Introd. 4 To be defrayed by the general contribution of the whole society. View more context for this quotation
1790 W. Paley Horæ Paulinæ ii. 10 We find a contribution carrying on at Corinth..for the Christians of Jerusalem.
1887 J. E. T. Rogers Hist. Agric. & Prices V. vi. 152 The border counties were exempt from contribution, at least till the Union of the Crowns.
b. to lay under contribution: to exact contributions from, make a levy upon; to force to contribute, render tributary. (A military phrase, frequently also in general sense. Cf. French mettre à contribution.)
ΘΚΠ
society > trade and finance > fees and taxes > impost, due, or tax > [verb (transitive)] > levy (an impost, tax, or due) > impose exactions on
toll1583
to lay under contribution1644
society > trade and finance > fees and taxes > impost, due, or tax > tribute > pay tribute [verb (transitive)] > subject to tribute
bring to trewec1330
to lay under contribution1644
1644 J. Milton Of Educ. 4 All the Historicall Physiology of Aristotle and Theophrastus are open before them, and as I may say, under contribution.
1687 T. Brown Saints in Uproar in Wks. (1730) I. 78 Did you manage it à la militaire, and lay the country under contribution?
1774 T. Pennant Tour Scotl. 1772 77 The..thief who laid the whole English borders under contribution.
1793 W. Roberts Looker-on No. 54. 427 Who have hitherto held all the seasons of the year under contribution to their praise.
1798 J. Ferriar Illustr. Sterne vi. 169 Many other books..were laid under contribution.
1851 F. Hall in Benares Mag. 5 23 The native authorities which M. de Tassy has laid under contribution for his first volume.
2.
a. Something given to a common stock or fund; a sum or thing (voluntarily) contributed.
ΘΚΠ
society > trade and finance > payment > contribution > [noun]
contribution1609
input1753
the mind > possession > giving > gift or present > [noun] > a contribution
quote1451
contribution1609
quotation1613
quota1618
symbol1627
1609 P. Holland tr. Ammianus Marcellinus Rom. Hist. 11 (R.) Hence it was, that the noble Valerius Publicola was buried by a contribution of money gathered for him.
1651 T. Hobbes Leviathan iii. xlii. 287 The voluntary contributions of the faithfull.
1717 Lady M. W. Montagu Let. 17 June (1965) I. 367 The..slaves..have been..redeem'd by the charitable Contributions of the Christians.
1851 H. W. Longfellow Golden Legend ii. 83 Near it stands the box for the poor..I will add my little contribution!
1874 J. R. Green Short Hist. Eng. People viii. §10. 566 To substitute the free contributions of congregations for the payment of tithes.
1893 N.E.D. at Contribution Mod. The smallest contribution will be thankfully received.
b. esp. A payment or tax imposed upon a body of persons, or the population of a country or district, by the civil, military, or spiritual authority; an impost. Apparently the earliest sense in French and English use; now, esp. An imposition levied upon a district for the support of an army in the field, to secure immunity from plunder, or for similar purposes.
ΘΚΠ
society > trade and finance > fees and taxes > impost, due, or tax > [noun]
yieldc950
tollc1000
tolne1023
mailOE
lotlOE
ransomc1325
tail1340
pensiona1387
contribution1387
scat gild14..
due1423
responsionc1447
impositionc1460
devoirs1503
excisea1513
toloney1517
impost1569
cast1597
levy1640
responde1645
reprise1818
1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. (Rolls) VIII. 301 Þo were dymes alwey i-gadred and contribuciouns i-payde, spiritualte and temporalte was alway i-pyled.
a1464 J. Capgrave Abbreuiacion of Cron. (Cambr. Gg.4.12) (1983) 149 For þe kyng or þe qween in swech maner [i.e. for ransom] men schuld be leyd to a certeyn contribucion.
1553 Act 7 Edw. VI c. 1 §20 Any..Collector of any..Benevolences, Contributions or Subsidies.
1577 J. Dee Gen. Mem. Arte Nauig. 55 No Notable Tax, or Contribution Publik, is (Historically) mentioned, to haue byn, for the Charges hereof, leuyed.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Julius Caesar (1623) iv. ii. 258.
1656 B. Harris tr. J. N. de Parival Hist. Iron Age i. iv. xii. 121 That Party..hated for the contributions, by which it exhausted Germany.
1769 ‘Junius’ Stat Nominis Umbra (1772) I. i. 9 He had no doubt of the constitutional right vested in parliament to raise the contribution.
1855 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. IV. 545 An infantry regiment, which was quartered at Royston, had levied contributions on the people of that town and of the neighbourhood.
1866 J. E. T. Rogers Hist. Agric. & Prices I. ix. 155 A third liability, affecting ecclesiastical fees..was that of compulsory contributions for the maintenance of cardinals, foreign bishops, and nuncios during their stay in England.
3. transferred and figurative.
a. Anything given or furnished to a common stock, or towards bringing about a common result.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > possession > giving > gift or present > [noun] > a contribution > to a common stock or towards a common result
contribution1644
1644 K. Digby Two Treat. Ded. Parents owe their children not only material subsistence for their body, but much more spiritual contributions for their mind.
1837 H. Martineau Society in Amer. III. 209 The American nation is made up of contributions from almost all other civilised nations.
1875 B. Jowett in tr. Plato Dialogues (ed. 2) I. Introd. 44 He makes a distinction..which is a real contribution to the science of logic.
b. A writing furnished as a distinct part of a joint literary work; an article supplied to a magazine or journal.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > journalism > journal > matter of or for journals > [noun] > article
piece1533
notice1592
article1701
contribution1714
magazine article1820
magazine paper1833
1714 Spectator No. 632. ⁋5 It were no hard Task to continue this Paper a considerable Time longer, by the Help of large Contributions sent from unknown Hands.
1750 S. Johnson Rambler No. 56. ⁋13 Many of my correspondents, who believe their contributions unjustly neglected.
1880 J. R. O'Flanagan Munster Circuit 408 To enrich the pages of the Dublin University Magazine by his contributions.
1882 C. Pebody Eng. Journalism (1882) ix. 65 A letter..apparently..a contribution from a fresh hand.
4. Law. The payment by each of the parties interested of his share in any common loss or liability. action for contribution: a suit brought by one of such parties, who has discharged a liability common to them all, to compel the others to make good their shares.
ΘΚΠ
society > trade and finance > payment > contribution > [noun] > share contributed by individual > to common liability
contribution1641
1641 Rastell's Termes de la Ley (new ed.) f. 83 Contributione facienda is a Writ, and it lyeth where there are divers Parceners, and hee which hath the part of the eldest doth make all the suit to the Lord, the others ought to make contribution to him, and if they will not, hee shall have against them the said Writ.
1809 T. E. Tomlins Jacob's Law-dict. at Insurance ii. §5 When goods are thrown overboard in a storm to lighten the ship, for the general safety of the ship and cargo, the owners of the ship and of goods saved are to contribute for the relief of those whose goods are ejected; this is called contribution, or general average.
1848 J. J. S. Wharton Law Lexicon 138/1 Contribution lies between partners for any excess, which has been paid by one partner beyond his share, against the other partners..It also lies between joint tenants, tenants in common, and part owners of ships and other chattels, for all charges..incurred for the common benefit.
1881 Law Rep.: Chancery Div. 17 46 The right of a surety who has paid his creditor is to have contribution from his co-sureties.
Compounds
attributive and in other combinations, as contribution-box, †contribution-money, †contribution-purse.
ΚΠ
1575–6 Act 18 Eliz. c. 17 All Contribucion Money payable to the use of the same Bridge.
1666 in Cambridge (Mass.) Proprietors' Rec. (1896) 211 The Inhabitants..are Assessed to pay the Ministers Salary, and put the Same into the contribution Box.
1753 Scots Mag. Aug. 421/2 Three horses run for a contribution-purse of 10 guineas.
1835 J. H. Ingraham South-West I. xx. 215 The contribution-box or bag makes its begging tour among the pews.
1845 ‘O. Optic’ In Doors & Out (1876) 50 It is only two months since you refused to put anything in the contribution box for the missions.
1875 R. W. Emerson Lett. & Social Aims iv. 119 Milder remedies sometimes serve to disperse a mob. Try sending round the contribution-box.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1893; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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