contributory

From earlier contributary, from Middle English contributarie, from con- +‎ tributarie after Middle French contributaire.

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈkɒntɹɪˌbjuːt(ə)ɹi/, /kənˈtɹɪbjʊt(ə)ɹi/, /kənˈtɹɪbjət(ə)ɹi/

• Audio (Southern England):

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• Audio (Southern England):

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• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈkɑntɹɪbjəˌtɔɹi/, /kənˈtrɪbjəˌtɔɹi/

contributory (comparative more contributory, superlative most contributory)

1. Of, pertaining to, or involving a contribution.
2. Tending to contribute to a result.
3. (obsolete) Paying tribute, tributary.
   • c. 1587–1588, [Christopher Marlowe], Tamburlaine the Great. The First Part , 2nd edition, part 1, London: Richard Iones, , published 1592, →OCLC; reprinted as Tamburlaine the Great (A Scolar Press Facsimile), Menston, Yorkshire, London: Scolar Press, 1973, →ISBN, Act III, scene iii:

     My Lord the great Commander of the worlde,
     Besides fifteene contributory kings,
     Hath now in armes ten thouſand Ianiſaries,
     Mounted on luſty Mauritanian Steeds, […]

contributory (plural contributories)

1. A person or thing that contributes.
   • 1947 January and February, Cecil J. Allen, “British Locomotive Practice and Performance”, in Railway Magazine, page 39:

     The response to firing is remarkable, and though the 280 lb. pressure seems more in the nature of a reserve for emergencies than a continuous working figure, even with the present-day apology for coal it seldom fell below 250 lb., and could always be brought up to blowing-off point with little difficulty. To this liveliness of steaming the thermic syphons are doubtless the chief contributory.

• “contributories”, in Collins English Dictionary.