a. [f. L. contigu-us (see CONTIGUE) + -OUS.]
1. Touching, in actual contact, next in space; meeting at a common boundary, bordering, adjoining. Const. to, formerly also with.
1611. Coryat, Crudities, 81. Two seuerall Castles built on a rocke which are so neare together that they are euen contiguous.
1626. Bacon, Sylva, § 865. Water, being contiguous with aire, cooleth it, but moisteneth it not.
1644. Evelyn, Diary, 21 April. This [island] is contiguous to ye towne by a stately stone bridge.
1722. J. Macky, Journ. thro’ Eng., I. 177. London and Westminster … are now by their Buildings become contiguous, and in a manner united.
1750. Johnson, Rambler, No. 35, ¶ 3. An heiress whose land lies contiguous to mine.
1842. W. Grove, Corr. Phys. Forces, 49. The hydrogen … unites with the oxygen of the contiguous molecule of water.
1874. S. Cox, Pilgr. Ps. iii. 51. Long rows of contiguous houses.
b. Math. Contiguous angles: = adjacent angles.
1727–51. Chambers, Cycl., s.v., Contiguous angles … are such as have one leg common to each angle; otherwise called adjoining angles.
2. Next in time or order, immediately successive.
1612–5. Bp. Hall, Contempl. N. T., III. i. The favours of our benificent Saviour were at the least contiguous. No sooner hath hee raised the centurion’s servant from his bed, then hee raises the widowe’s son from his beere.
1748. Hartley, Observ. Man, II. iv. 402. Two great Events will fall upon two contiguous Moments of Time.
3. Coadjacent in experience or thought.
1770. Beattie, Ess. Truth, II. ii. § 3 (R.). The fancy is determined by habit to pass from the idea of fire to that of melted lead, on account of our having always perceived them contiguous and successive.
† 4. Continuous, with its parts in uninterrupted contact. Obs.
1715. Leoni, trans. Palladio’s Archit. (1742), I. 51. Instead of Pilasters, there is a contiguous Wall.
1725. De Foe, Voy. round World, II. 47. The notion of the Hills being contiguous, like a wall that had no gates.
5. loosely. Neighboring, situated in close proximity (though not in contact). † Of persons: Dwelling near.
1710. Prideaux, Orig. Tithes, App. 25. Those Parishes, within five miles distance, may be served by a Contiguous Minister.
1779. Forrest, Voy. N. Guinea, 149. The island of Goram is said to have thirteen mosques … Contiguous is a small island called Salwak.
a. 1853. Robertson, Serm., Ser. III. ii. (1872), I. 22. It [the spirit of the world] is found in a different form in contiguous towns.
