one person upon another, but where common
climatic, malarious, or other wide-spread conditions are believed to be
chiefly instrumental.

* * * * *

CONTINUAL.

Synonyms:

ceaseless, incessant, regular, uninterrupted,
constant, invariable, unbroken, unremitting,
continuous, perpetual, unceasing, unvarying.

_Continuous_ describes that which is absolutely without pause or break;
_continual_, that which often intermits, but as regularly begins again.
A _continuous_ beach is exposed to the _continual_ beating of the waves.
A similar distinction is made between _incessant_ and _ceaseless_. The
_incessant_ discharge of firearms makes the _ceaseless_ roar of battle.
_Constant_ is sometimes used in the sense of _continual_; but its chief
uses are mental and moral.

* * * * *

CONTRACT.

Synonyms:

agreement, cartel, engagement, pledge,
arrangement, compact, obligation, promise,
bargain, covenant, pact, stipulation.

All these words involve at least two parties, tho an _engagement_ or
_promise_ may be the act of but one. A _contract_ is a formal agreement
between two or more parties for the doing or leaving undone some
specified act or acts, and is ordinarily in writing. Mutual _promises_
may have the force of a _contract_. A consideration, or compensation, is
essential to convert an _agreement_ into a _contract_. A _contract_ may
be oral or written. A _covenant_ in law is a written _contract_ under
seal. _Covenant_ is frequent in religious usage, as _contract_ is in law
and business. _Compact_ is essentially the same as _contract_, but is
applied to international _agreements_, treaties, etc. A _bargain_ is a
mutual _agreement_ for an exchange of values, without the formality of a
_contract_. A _stipulation_ is a single item in an _agreement_ or
_contract_. A _cartel_ is a military _agreement_ for the exchange of
prisoners or the like.

* * * * *

CONTRAST.

Synonyms:

compare, differentiate, discriminate, oppose.

To _compare_ (L. _con_, together, and _par_, equal) is to place together
in order to show likeness or unlikeness; to _contrast_ (L. _contra_,
against, and _sto_, stand) is to set in opposition in order to show
unlikeness. We _contrast_ objects that have been already _compared_. We
must _compare_ them, at least momentarily, even to know that they ar