1585. Abp. Sandys, Serm. (1841), 50. God cannot be better served, than if by law ye restrain this unlawful contracting.
1637. Heywood, Anna & Ph., Wks. 1874, VI. 316. Many virgins at their contractings rather consent then speake.
1653. H. Cogan, trans. Pinto’s Trav., lxxvi. 311. The contracting of a new league with the great King of Portugal.
1668. Hale, Pref. Rolle’s Abridgm., 5. The contracting of the Laws into a narrower compass and method.
1692. Ray, Dissol. World, 43. The contracting of the Age of the Postdiluvians.
b. attrib. Relating to a contract or agreement.
1649. Jer. Taylor, Gt. Exemp., III. xv. 37. The present miraculous graces of the holy Spirit were an earnest and in the nature of a contracting peny.
