a. and sb. [f. L. type *contribūtōri-us, f. contribūt- ppl. stem (see CONTRIBUTE) + -ORY. Cf. F. contributoire ‘relating to contribution’ (Littré). See also CONTRIBUTARY.]
A. adj. 1. That contributes to a common fund; making contribution.
1467. in Eng. Gilds (1870), 385. Euery crafte that ben contributory.
c. 1470. Harding, Chron. clx. i. To make confederacy With Kyng Philip of Fraunce and aliaunce, Perpetually to be contributorie, Ether with other.
1535. Act 27 Hen. VIII., c. 25. The parishens or people, which by this acte shall be contributorie to suche almes.
1622. Callis, Stat. Sewers (1647), 98. Every man that hath grounds lying within the Level … to be contributory to the charge.
1741. T. Robinson, Gavelkind, vi. 112. All the Parcenors shall be contributory.
1852. Grote, Greece, II. lxxv. IX. 525. Without any contributory allies or any foreign support.
† b. Tributary. Obs.
1548. Udall, etc., Erasm. Par. Rev. xvi. (R.). To rule ouer all Christien kynges and princes, which she hath … made subject and contributorye vnto her.
1586. Marlowe, 1st Pt. Tamburl., III. iii. The great commander of the world … Besides fifteen contributory kings.
1601. Chester, Love’s Mart., Ep. L. Tiberius (1878), 52. The whole huge circle of the world, Are made contributorie and owe vs homage.
c. Of things: Charged with a contribution.
1491. Act 7 Hen. VII., c. 11 § 1. The movable goodes, catalles and othre thinges usuelly to suche xvmes and xmes contributory and chargeable.
1575–6. Act 18 Eliz., c. 17. Landes of auncient tyme contributorie to the Repayre of the same Bridge.
1587. Fleming, Contn. Holinshed, III. 1378/1. Owners of the contributorie lands.
2. transf. and fig. That contributes anything to a common stock; bearing a share towards any purpose or result.
Contributory negligence: negligence on the part of a person injured, which has contributed or conduced to the injury.
1594. Bacon, Gesta Grayorum, Wks. VIII. 335. Wherein whatsoever the wit of man hath heretofore committed to books of worth may be made contributory to your wisdom.
1647. Clarendon, Contempl. Ps., Tracts (1727), 527. Accessary and contributory to our own destruction.
1694. trans. Milton’s Lett. State, 29 July 1655. That the Advice or Intention of your Majesty were no way contributory to this prodigious Violence.
1816. Keatinge, Trav., II. 138. The river at the junction of the two contributory streams presents a truly noble appearance.
1870. Spurgeon, Treas. Dav., Ps. xxxv. 27. He would have their gladness contributory to the divine glory.
1875. Maine, Hist. Inst., ii. 45. Modern doctrines on the subject of contributory negligence.
3. Relating to, or of the nature of, contribution.
1836. For. Q. Rev., XVII. 406. Requests for more contributory help to the Mercury.
1883. Fortn. Rev., May, 693. Levying a contributory rate on neighbouring parishes.
B. sb. 1. One who, or that which, contributes.
1467. in Eng. Gilds (1870), 372. The stewards & the contributories ther to belongynge.
1523. Act 14–15 Hen. VIII., c. 4 § 1. Contributories to all maner of Charges.
1523. Fitzherb., Surv., 33 b. The eldest doughter shall do homage for all, and also ye seruyces, and the other doughters shall be contrybutories, and beare euery one of them their porcyon.
1866. Rogers, Agric. & Prices, I. iv. 106. The burden to be borne by each contributory [to the wool-tax]. Ibid. (1868), Pol. Econ., xii. (ed. 3), 165. As the rent of land is that which remains over and above the cost of production, it is paid last, i.e. when all the other contributories are satisfied.
2. Eng. Law. One who is bound, on the winding up of a joint stock company, to contribute toward the payment of its debts, as being, or representing, a present or past member of the company.
1848. Act 11 & 12 Vict., c. 45 § 3. The word ‘contributory’ shall include every member of a company, and also every other person liable to contribute to the payment of any of the debts, liabilities, or losses thereof.
1862. Companies’ Act (25 & 26 Vict., c. 89), § 74. The term ‘contributory’ shall mean every person liable to contribute to the assets of a company under this act in the event of the same being wound up.
1889. Lindley, Companies, 745. One of the first duties of the Court, after making a winding-up order, is to settle the list of contributories.
