To join or fit together closely, as boards or planks in construction; to frame or construct by fitting pieces together.
From Latin 'contignatus', past participle of 'contignare' (to join beams), from 'con-' (together) + 'tignum' (beam or timber). The word literally means 'to beam together.'
Carpenters and builders would have used this word constantly in ancient Rome—it's the verb version of 'mortise and tenon,' that incredibly smart way of fitting wood pieces together without nails that you still see in fine furniture today!
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