Continent

Pronunciation

• UK IPA: /ˈkÉ’ntɪnÉ™nt/

From Latin continēntem, noun use of present participle of continēre ("to contain").

Full definition of continent

Noun

1. (obsolete) Land (as opposed to the water).
• 1590, Edmund Spenser, The Faerie Queene, III.v:The carkas with the streame was carried downe,
  But th'head fell backeward on the continent.
2. (obsolete in general sense) A large contiguous landmass considered independent of its islands, peninsulas etc. Specifically, the Old World continent of Europe–Asia–Africa. See the Continent.
3. Each of the main continuous land-masses on the earth's surface, now generally regarded as seven in number, including their related islands, continental shelfs etc.

Derived terms

• the Continent
• continental
• supercontinent

Hyponyms

• Africa
• America
• Antarctica
• Asia
• Australia
• Europe
• Eurasia
• Gondwana
• Laurasia
• North America
• Oceania
• Pangaea
• South America

From Old French continent, from Latin continentem ("continuous; holding together"), present participle of continēre ("to contain").

Adjective

1. Exercising self-restraint; controlled, temperate with respect to one's bodily needs or passions, especially sex.
• ShakespeareHave a continent forbearance till the speed of his rage goes slower.
• 2009, Diarmaid MacCulloch, A History of Christianity, Penguin 2010, p. 119:A celibate himself, he was of the opinion that marriage was something of a concession to human frailty, to save from fornication those who could not be continent, so it was better to marry than to burn with lust.
2. Not interrupted; connected; continuous.a continent fever
• BerrewoodThe northeast part of Asia is, if not continent with the west side of America, yet certainly it is the least disjoined by sea of all that coast.
3. (obsolete) Serving to restrain or limit; restraining; opposing.

Antonyms

• incontinent