content¹

[kon-tent]

See more synonyms for content on Thesaurus.com

noun

Usually contents.
1. something that is contained: the contents of a box.
2. the subjects or topics covered in a book or document.
3. the chapters or other formal divisions of a book or document: a table of contents.
something that is to be expressed through some medium, as speech, writing, or any of various arts: a poetic form adequate to a poetic content.
significance or profundity; meaning: a clever play that lacks content.

substantive information or creative material viewed in contrast to its actual or potential manner of presentation: publishers, record companies, and other content providers; a flashy website, but without much content.
that which may be perceived in something: the latent versus the manifest content of a dream.
Philosophy, Logic. the sum of the attributes or notions comprised in a given conception; the substance or matter of cognition.
power of containing; holding capacity: The bowl's content is three quarts.
volume, area, or extent; size.
the amount contained.
Linguistics. the system of meanings or semantic values specific to a language (opposed to expression).
1. Mathematics.the greatest common divisor of all the coefficients of a given polynomial.Compare primitive polynomial.
2. any abstraction of the concept of length, area, or volume.

Origin of content¹

1375–1425; late Middle English (< Anglo-French) < Medieval Latin contentum, noun use of neuter of Latin contentus (past participle of continēre to contain), equivalent to con- con- + ten- hold + -tus past participle suffix

content²

[kuhn-tent]

adjective

satisfied with what one is or has; not wanting more or anything else.
British. agreeing; assenting.
Archaic. willing.

verb (used with object)

to make content: These things content me.

noun

the state or feeling of being contented; satisfaction; contentment: His content was threatened.
(in the British House of Lords) an affirmative vote or voter.

Origin of content²

1400–50; late Middle English < Middle French < Latin contentus satisfied, special use of past participle of continēre; see content¹

Related formscon·tent·a·ble, adjectivecon·tent·ly, adverbcon·tent·ness, noun

Synonyms

See more synonyms for on Thesaurus.com

4. appease, gratify. See satisfy.

Antonyms

4. dissatisfy.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for contents

Contemporary Examples

When I saw it listed on the contents page, I thought, “Why would he write about a song that insipid?”
Greil Marcus Talks About Trying to Unlock Rock and Roll in 10 Songs
Allen Barra
November 17, 2014
But Tarantino nixed that idea, instead choosing to have the contents be whatever you want it to be.
The Secrets of ‘Pulp Fiction’: 20 Things You Didn’t Know About the Movie on Its 20th Anniversary
Marlow Stern
October 19, 2014
It contents were instantly irrelevant, news from another century.
The Resilient City: New York After 9/11
John Avlon
September 11, 2014
Inhofe, as the GOP head of the committee that controls that bill, is in a good position to influence its contents.
Republicans Offer Obama ISIS War Authorization He Doesn’t Want
Josh Rogin
September 9, 2014
After it reached Ethiopia, the contents were distributed and sold out in under two weeks.
'Made in China' Now Being Made in Africa
Brendon Hong
August 23, 2014

Historical Examples

Mr. Gladstone knew what books he had and was familiar with their contents.
The Grand Old Man
Richard B. Cook
She is greatly disturbed at the contents of a letter from Lovelace.
Clarissa, Volume 1 (of 9)
Samuel Richardson
Andrew was barely in time to save the contents of the sack from her teeth.
Way of the Lawless
Max Brand
Then label the cans, so that no mistake will be made as to their contents.
Woman's Institute Library of Cookery, Vol. 5
Woman's Institute of Domestic Arts and Sciences
The Bank will open the door and attend to the contents of the box at the proper time.
Her Father's Daughter
Gene Stratton-Porter

British Dictionary definitions for contents

content¹

noun

(often plural) everything that is inside a containerthe contents of a box
(usually plural)
1. the chapters or divisions of a book
2. a list, printed at the front of a book, of chapters or divisions together with the number of the first page of each
the meaning or significance of a poem, painting, or other work of art, as distinguished from its style or form
all that is contained or dealt with in a discussion, piece of writing, etc; substance
the capacity or size of a thing
the proportion of a substance contained in an alloy, mixture, etcthe lead content of petrol

Word Origin

C15: from Latin contentus contained, from continēre to contain

content²

adjective (postpositive)

mentally or emotionally satisfied with things as they are
assenting to or willing to accept circumstances, a proposed course of action, etc

verb

(tr) to make (oneself or another person) content or satisfiedto content oneself with property

noun

peace of mind; mental or emotional satisfaction

interjection

British (in the House of Lords) a formal expression of assent, as opposed to the expression not content

Derived Formscontently, adverbcontentment, noun

Word Origin

C14: from Old French, from Latin contentus contented, that is, having restrained desires, from continēre to restrain

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for contents

n.

"things contained" in something (the stomach, a document, etc.), early 15c., Latin contentum (plural contenta), neuter past participle of continere (see contain). Table of contents is late 15c.

content

v.

early 15c., from Middle French contenter, from content (adj.) "satisfied," from Latin contentus "contained, satisfied," past participle of continere (see contain). Sense evolved through "contained," "restrained," to "satisfied," as the contented person's desires are bound by what he or she already has. Related: Contented; contentedly.

content

adj.

c.1400, from Old French content, "satisfied," from Latin contentus "contained, satisfied," past participle of continere (see contain). Related: Contently (largely superseded by contentedly).

content

n.

"that which is contained," early 15c., from Latin contentum, contenta, noun use of past participle of continere (see contain). Meaning "satisfaction" is from 1570s; heart's content is from 1590s (Shakespeare).

contents in Medicine

content

(kŏn′tĕnt′)

Something contained, as in a receptacle.
The proportion of a specified substance present in something else, as of protein in a food.
The subject matter or essential meaning of something, especially a dream.

Idioms and Phrases with contents

content

see to one's heart's content.

content.css-pdubzd{font-size:17px;vertical-align:super;}1

Origin of .css-1fxfie5{font-size:22px;}@media (max-width:768px){.css-1fxfie5{font-size:18px;margin:0 10px 10px 0;word-break:break-all;word-wrap:break-word;-webkit-hyphens:auto;-moz-hyphens:auto;-ms-hyphens:auto;hyphens:auto;line-height:22px;}}content1

content2

Origin of content2

Synonyms

Antonyms

Related Words

Examples from the Web for contents

Contemporary Examples

When I saw it listed on the contents page, I thought, “Why would he write about a song that insipid?”

But Tarantino nixed that idea, instead choosing to have the contents be whatever you want it to be.

It contents were instantly irrelevant, news from another century.

Inhofe, as the GOP head of the committee that controls that bill, is in a good position to influence its contents.

After it reached Ethiopia, the contents were distributed and sold out in under two weeks.

Historical Examples

Mr. Gladstone knew what books he had and was familiar with their contents.

She is greatly disturbed at the contents of a letter from Lovelace.

Andrew was barely in time to save the contents of the sack from her teeth.

Then label the cans, so that no mistake will be made as to their contents.

The Bank will open the door and attend to the contents of the box at the proper time.

content1

Word Origin

content2

Word Origin

Word Origin and History for contents

n.

content

v.

content

adj.

content

n.

content

Idioms and Phrases with contents

content

content¹

Origin of content¹

content²

Origin of content²

content¹

content²