Dictionary

contractant en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• /kənˈtɹækt.ənt/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• /ˈkɑn-/ (General-American, cot-caught-merger)
• /kənˈtɹakt.ənt/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• /ˈkɒn-/ (Canada, standard)
• /ˈkɒn-/ (Received-Pronunciation, contemporary)
• /ˈkɒn-/ (New-Zealand)
• /kənˈtɹækt.ənt/ (Australia)
• /kənˈtɹakt.ənt/ (Scotland)
• /kənˈtɹɛkt.ənt/ (New-Zealand)
• /ˈkɔn-/ (Australia)
• /ˈkɔn-/ (Scotland)
• /kənˈtɹækt.ənt/ (Canada)
• kən-trăkt′ənt
• kŏn′-
• /ˈkɔːn-/ (Received-Pronunciation) conservative
• /ˈkɑn-/ (Canada, dialectal)
• /ˈkɔn-/ (General-American) without the cot–caught merger
• /kənˈtɹækt.ənt/ (General-American)

Etymology

Borrowed from French contractant (“contracting”), the present participle of contracter (“to contract”). First attested in 1721. By surface analysis, contract + -ant.

Meanings

1. (rare) A contracting party; one that contracts.
   • That trading vessels of any of the contractant, under convoy, shall lodge with the commander of the convoying vessel their passports and certificates or sea-letters, drawn up according to a certain form. 1860, Theodore Dwight Woolsey, Introduction to the Study of International Law, third (revised and enlarged) edition, quoted in Century 1911, New York City, NY: Scribner, Armstrong & Co., published 1872, § 191, page 327:
2. (rare) Synonym of condensation.

Forms

Synonyms

condensation