Obs. or arch. [ad. L. contignātiōn-em, n. of action f. contignāre: see prec. Also in mod.F.]
1. The joining or framing together of beams or boards; the condition or manner of being joined together; jointing together.
1630. Donne, Serm., Ps. lxviii. 20. Buildings stand by the benefit of their … contignations that knit and unite them … The contignation and knitting suffer them not to cleave.
1641. Evelyn, Diary, 25 Oct.–1 Nov. There stands an arch … it has some imperceptible contignations, which do not betray themselves easily to the eye.
1677. Hale, Prim. Orig. Man., IV. iv. 330. The congruity of its contignation to another piece of Timber.
1754. Hildrop, Misc. Wks., II. 49. In the contignation (as the learned Doctor calls it) there is no manner of Occasion for Oak.
fig. 1632. Sanderson, Serm. (1681), 289. To dissolve those Joynts and Contignations which … clasp into one Structure those many little members and parts whereof all humane societies consist.
1796. Burke, Regic. Peace, ii. Wks. VIII. 219. Linked by a contignation into the edifice of France.
2. A structure formed by joining timbers together, a piece of joiner’s or carpenter’s work; hence, any conjoined structure, framework, or ‘frame’ of things.
1634. Bp. Hall, Wks. (1837), V. 387. In that bright ard spacious contignation of the firmament.
1662. Petty, Taxes, 23. The next palace will be built from the whole present contignation of houses at such a distance as [etc.].
1676. Evelyn, Silva, xxiv. § 13. In Crete they employ’d it [the Cypress] … in the largest Contignations and did formerly build Ships of it.
1889. Q. Rev., April, 350. He [Goethe] venerates the Cross: but thinks it unworthy of a philosopher to refer the whole scheme of Heaven and earth to ‘that contignation.’
3. spec. A boarding or flooring; a floor, story, or stage.
1592. R. D., Hypnerotomachia, 63. A marueilous twisted contignation or couering of gold-smiths work, ouer a foure square plaine Court.
1624. Wotton, Archit., in Reliq. Wotton. (1672), 46. A Contignation or Floor born upon the outward wall.
1646. J. Gregory, Notes & Observ. (1650), 11. Their private Oratories were appointed in the uppermost Contignations of their Houses.
1703. T. N., City & C. Purchaser, 60. Each Contignation, or Floor.
1749. Phil. Trans., XLVI. 230. A Plan of these Works … with Remarks of every thing that was curious in all three Contignations [stories of a salt mine].
1851. G. S. Faber, Many Mansions, 131. To pass, without obstruction, through doors, or walls, or contignations.
