continent
[kon-tn-uh nt]
- 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.
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- 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.
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Origin of continent
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for continent
Contemporary Examples
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
War is a rough teacher, but it is evidently the only one for the Continent.
Vienna has had her share in the general improvement of the Continent.
Let us proceed with the continent where we find ourselves at present, resumed Hatteras.
The Field of IceJules Verne
The people were better fed and better clothed than any of their neighbours on the Continent.
English VillagesP. H. Ditchfield
"You were on the continent this morning, Father Jos," said Cornelius.
Tales And Novels, Volume 9 (of 10)Maria Edgeworth
continent1
- 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
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Word Origin
C16: from the Latin phrase terra continens continuous land, from continēre; see contain
continent2
- able to control urination and defecation
- exercising self-restraint, esp from sexual activity; chaste
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Word Origin
C14: from Latin continent-, present participle of continēre; see contain
Continent
- the Continent the mainland of Europe as distinguished from the British Isles
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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 continent
adj.
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.
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n.
"large land mass," 1550s, from continent land (mid-15c.), translating Latin terra continens "continuous land," from continens, present participle of continere (see continent (adj.)).
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
continent
[kŏn′tə-nənt]
- One of the seven great landmasses of the Earth. The continents are Africa, Antarctica, Asia, Australia, Europe, North America, and South America.
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The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
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