Contribution

[a. F. contribution (Oresme, 14th c.), ad. L. contribūtiōn-em, n. of action f. contribuĕre, contribūt-, to CONTRIBUTE. Cf. F. contribution.]

  1.  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.

1582.  N. T. (Rhem.), Rom., xv. 26. To make some contribution vpon [1611 to make a certaine contribution for] the poore sainctes that are in Hierusalem.

1616.  Bullokar, Contribution, a giuing with others, when many giue together.

1637.  R. Humphrey, trans. St. Ambrose, i. 56. Who is much in contribution and distribution of that hee possesseth.

1701.  Lond. Gaz., No. 3753/8. Notice … by the Office of Insurance from Fire by Amicable Contribution.

1776.  Adam Smith, W. N., Introd. (1869), I. 4. To be defrayed by the general contribution of the whole society.

1790.  Paley, Horæ Paul., ii. 10. We find a contribution carrying on at Corinth … for the Christians of Jerusalem.

1887.  Rogers, 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 phr., freq. also in gen. sense. Cf. F. mettre à contribution.)

1644.  Milton, Educ. (1738), 137. All the Historical Physiology of Aristotle and Theophrastus are open before them, and as I may say under contribution.

1687.  T. Brown, Saints in Uproar, Wks. 1730, I. 78. Did you manage it à la militaire, and lay the country under contribution?

1774.  Pennant, Tour Scot. in 1772, 77. The … thief who laid the whole English borders under contribution.

1793.  W. Roberts, Looker-on, No. 57. Who have hitherto held all the seasons of the year under contribution to their praise.

1798.  Ferriar, Illustr. Sterne, vi. 169. Many other books … were laid under contribution.

1851.  F. Hall, in Benares Mag., V. 23. The native authorities which M. de Tassy has laid under contribution for his first volume.

  2.  Something given to a common stock or fund; a sum or thing (voluntarily) contributed.

1609.  Holland, Amm. Marcell., 11 (R.). Hence it was, that the noble Valerius Publicola was buried by a contribution of money gathered for him.

1651.  Hobbes, Leviath., III. xlii. 287. The voluntary contributions of the faithfull.

1715.  Lady M. W. Montague, Lett., II. xlii. 8. The slaves … have been … redeemed by the charitable contributions of the christians.

1851.  Longf., Gold. Leg., II. Village Church. Near it stands the box for the poor … I will add my little contribution!

1874.  Green, Short Hist., viii. § 10. 566. To substitute the free contributions of congregations for the payment of tithes.

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. App. the earliest sense in Fr. and Eng. 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.

1387.  Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), VIII. 301. Þo were dymes alwey i-gadred and contribuciouns i-payde, spiritualte and temporalte was alway i-pyled.

1460.  Capgrave, Chron., 192. For the kyng or 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.

1598.  Hakluyt, Voy., I. 7 (R.). No notable taxe or contribution publike is historically mentioned to haue been for the charges leuied.

1601.  Shaks., Jul. C., IV. iii. 204.

1659.  B. Harris, Parival’s Iron Age, 116. That Party … hated for the contributions, by which it exhausted Germany.

1769.  Junius Lett., i. 5. He had no doubt of the constitutional right vested in Parliament to raise the contribution.

1835.  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.  Rogers, 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.  transf. and fig. Anything given or furnished to a common stock, or towards bringing about a common result.

1644.  Digby, Two Treat., Ded. a ij. Parents owe vnto their children, not onely materiall subsistence for their bodie; but much more, spirituall contributions to their better part, their minde.

1837.  Ht. Martineau, Soc. Amer., III. 209. The American nation is made up of contributions from almost all other civilised nations.

1875.  Jowett, Plato (ed. 2), I. 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.

1714.  Spect., 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.  Johnson, Rambler, No. 56, ¶ 13. Many of my correspondents, who believe their contributions unjustly neglected.

1880.  J. R. O’Flanagan, Munster Circuit, 408. Isaac Butt, M.P., Q.C., also contributed largely to enrich the pages of the Dublin University Magazine by his contributions, chiefly political.

1882.  Pebody, Eng. Journalism, ix. (1882), 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.

1641.  Termes de la Ley, 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.  Tomlins, Law Dict., s.v. 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.  Wharton, Law Lexicon, 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.  Sir W. M. James, in Law Rep., 17 Ch. Div. 46. The right of a surety who has paid his creditor is to have contribution from his co-sureties.

  5.  attrib.and Comb., as contribution-box, † -money, † -purse.

1575–6.  Act 18 Eliz., c. 17. All Contribucion Money payable to the use of the same Bridge.

1753.  Scots Mag., Aug., 421/2. Three horses run for a contribution-purse of 10 guineas.

1875.  Emerson, Lett. & Soc. Aims, iv. 119. Milder remedies sometimes serve to disperse a mob. Try sending round the contribution-box.