continent
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3 ENTRIES FOUND:

1con·ti·nent

adjective \ˈkän-tə-nənt\

Definition of CONTINENT

1
: exercising continence
2
obsolete : restrictive
con·ti·nent·ly adverb

Examples of CONTINENT

  1. Most children are continent by age three.
  2. <a religous sect that expects its unmarried members to be completely celibate and its married adherents to maintain continent relationships>

Origin of CONTINENT

Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin continent-, continens, from present participle of continēre to hold in — more at contain
First Known Use: 14th century

2con·ti·nent

noun \ˈkän-tə-nənt, ˈkänt-nənt\

Definition of CONTINENT

1
archaic : container, confines
2
archaic : epitome
4
a : one of the six or seven great divisions of land on the globe
b capitalized : the continent of Europe —used with the

Examples of CONTINENT

  1. The book provides information on hotels in Britain and on the Continent.
  2. <Europe and Asia are sometimes considered together to be one continent.>

Origin of CONTINENT

in senses 1 & 2, from Latin continent-, continens, present participle of continēre, to hold together, contain; in senses 3 & 4, from Latin continent-, continens continuous mass of land, mainland, from continent-, continens, present participle
First Known Use: 1541

con·ti·nent

adjective \ˈkänt-ən-ənt\   (Medical Dictionary)

Medical Definition of CONTINENT

: exercising continence
con·ti·nent·ly adverb

continent

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

One of seven large continuous masses of land: Asia, Africa, North America, South America, Antarctica, Europe, and Australia (listed in order of size). Europe and Asia are sometimes considered a single continent, Eurasia. The continents vary greatly in size and in ratio of coastline to total area. More than two-thirds of the world's continental land area lies north of the equator, and all the continents except Antarctica are wedge-shaped, wider in the north than in the south. See also continental drift.

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