contractually

contract ► NOUN 1) a written or spoken agreement intended to be enforceable by law. 2) informal an arrangement for someone to be killed by a hired assassin.

► VERB 1) decrease in size, number, or range. 2) (of a muscle) become shorter and tighter in order to move part of the body. 3) shorten (a word or phrase) by omitting or merging letters or words. 4) enter into a formal and legally binding agreement. 5) (contract in/out) Brit. choose to be or not to be involved in. 6) (contract out) arrange for (work) to be done by another organization. 7) catch or develop (a disease). 8) become liable to pay (a debt).

DERIVATIVES contractive adjective contractual adjective contractually adverb.

ORIGIN from Latin contractus, from contrahere 'draw together, tighten' .