continent
- one of the main landmasses of the globe, usually reckoned as seven in number (Europe, Asia, Africa, North America, South America, Australia, and Antarctica).
- a comparable landmass on another planet.
- the mainland, as distinguished from islands or peninsulas.
- the Continent, the mainland of Europe, as distinguished from the British Isles.
- a continuous tract or extent, as of land.
- Archaic. something that serves as a container or boundary.
- exercising or characterized by restraint in relation to the desires or passions and especially to sexual desires; temperate.
- able to control urinary and fecal discharge.
- Obsolete. containing; being a container; capacious.
- Obsolete. restraining or restrictive.
- Obsolete. continuous; forming an uninterrupted tract, as land.
Origin of continent
Related Words for continent
celibate, ascetic, abstinent, abstemious, austere, inhibited, modest, restrained, sober, temperate, abstentious, bridled, curbedExamples from the Web for continent
Contemporary Examples of continent
Opponents of Muslims and immigrants across the continent are claiming vindication in the aftermath of the Charlie Hebdo attack.
World War II is still a long way off, but the seeds of conflict are already being sown on the continent.
It can be hard to wrap your head around the problems facing the continent because they might seem ancient to us.
But this is often seen as little more than a way of trying to defame Edward III on the continent.
The last time a Pope addressed the parliament in Strasbourg was in 1988 when an Iron Curtain still divided the continent.
Historical Examples of continent
Vienna has had her share in the general improvement of the Continent.
War is a rough teacher, but it is evidently the only one for the Continent.
The people were better fed and better clothed than any of their neighbours on the Continent.
English VillagesP. H. Ditchfield
Let us proceed with the continent where we find ourselves at present, resumed Hatteras.
The Field of IceJules Verne
"You were on the continent this morning, Father Jos," said Cornelius.
Tales And Novels, Volume 9 (of 10)Maria Edgeworth
continent
1- one of the earth's large land masses (Asia, Australia, Africa, Europe, North and South America, and Antarctica)
- that part of the earth's crust that rises above the oceans and is composed of sialic rocks. Including the continental shelves, the continents occupy 30 per cent of the earth's surface
- obsolete
- mainland as opposed to islands
- a continuous extent of land
Word Origin for continent
continent
2- able to control urination and defecation
- exercising self-restraint, esp from sexual activity; chaste
Word Origin for continent
Continent
- the Continent the mainland of Europe as distinguished from the British Isles
Word Origin and History for continent
late 14c., "self-restraining," from Old French continent and directly from Latin continentem (nominative continens) "holding together, continuous," present participle of continere "hold together" (see contain). Meaning moved from "exercising self-restraint" to "chaste" 14c., and to bowel and bladder control 19c.
"large land mass," 1550s, from continent land (mid-15c.), translating Latin terra continens "continuous land," from continens, present participle of continere (see continent (adj.)).
continent
- One of the seven great landmasses of the Earth. The continents are Africa, Antarctica, Asia, Australia, Europe, North America, and South America.