continence
[ kon-tn-uh ns ]
/ ˈkɒn tn əns /
noun
self-restraint or abstinence, especially in regard to sexual activity; temperance; moderation.
Physiology. the ability to voluntarily control urinary and fecal discharge.
RELATED WORDS
Nearby words
conti, contiguity, contiguous, contiguously, contin., continence, continent, continental, continental army, continental breakfast, continental celtic
Also con·ti·nen·cy.
Origin of continence
Related formsnon·con·ti·nence, nounnon·con·ti·nen·cy, nounun·con·ti·nence, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for continence
Word Origin and History for continence
continence
late 14c., "self-restraint," from Old French continence (14c.), from Latin continentia "a holding back, repression," from continent-, present participle stem of continere (see continent). Especially of sexual desire from late 14c.; of the body's eliminatory functions, from 1915. Related: Continency.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Medicine definitions for continence
continence
[ kŏn′tə-nəns ]
n.
Self-restraint; moderation.
Voluntary control over urinary and fecal discharge.
Partial or complete abstention from sexual activity.
Related formscon′ti•nent adj.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
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