con·tin·gent /kənˈtɪnʤənt/
  (a.)或許發生的,附隨的,暫時的偶然的事情,分遣隊
  Con·tin·gent, n.
  1. An event which may or may not happen; that which is unforeseen, undetermined, or dependent on something future; a contingency.
     His understanding could almost pierce into future contingents.   --South.
  2. That which falls to one in a division or apportionment among a number; a suitable share; proportion; esp., a quota of troops.
     From the Alps to the border of Flanders, contingents were required . . . 200,000 men were in arms.   --Milman.
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  Con·tin·gent a.
  1. Possible, or liable, but not certain, to occur; incidental; casual.
     Weighing so much actual crime against so much contingent advantage.   --Burke.
  2. Dependent on that which is undetermined or unknown; as, the success of his undertaking is contingent upon events which he can not control. “Uncertain and contingent causes.”
  3. Law Dependent for effect on something that may or may not occur; as, a contingent estate.
     If a contingent legacy be left to any one when he attains, or if he attains, the age of twenty-one.   --Blackstone.
  contingent
       adj 1: possible but not certain to occur; "they had to plan for
              contingent expenses"
       2: determined by conditions or circumstances not yet
          established; "arms sales contingent on the approval of
          congress" [syn: contingent on(p), dependent on(p), dependant
          on(p), depending on(p)]
       3: uncertain because of uncontrollable circumstances; "the
          results of confession were not contingent, they were
          certain"- George Eliot
       n 1: a gathering of persons representative of some larger group;
            "each nation sent a contingent of athletes to the
            Olympics"
       2: a temporary military unit; "the peace-keeping force includes
          one British contingent" [syn: detail]