content

noun (1)

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con·tent | \ ˈkän-ˌtent

Definition of content

(Entry 1 of 4)

1a : something contained —usually used in plural the jar's contentsthe drawer's contents

b : the topics or matter treated in a written work table of contents

c : the principal substance (such as written matter, illustrations, or music) offered by a website … Internet users have evolved an ethos of free content in the Internet.— Ben Gerson

2a : substance, gist

b : meaning, significance

c : the events, physical detail, and information in a work of art — compare form sense 10c The film was rated R for its violent content.

3a : the matter dealt with in a field of study … the content of sociology is inexhaustible …— Franklin H. Giddings

b : a part, element, or complex of parts

4 : the amount of specified material contained : proportion the sulfur content in coal

content

adjective

con·tent | \ kən-ˈtent

Definition of content (Entry 2 of 4)

: contented, satisfied She was content with her life as it was.

content

verb

con·tent | \ kən-ˈtent

contented; contenting; contents

Definition of content (Entry 3 of 4)

transitive verb

1 : to appease the desires of … he had been betrayed into a position which neither contented his heart nor satisfied his conscience.— Edward Bulwer-Lytton

2 : to limit (oneself) in requirements, desires, or actions The rainy weather spoiled our plans for the beach, so we had to content ourselves with a relaxing day at home.

content

noun (2)

con·tent | \ kən-ˈtent

Definition of content (Entry 4 of 4)

: contentment He ate to his heart's content.

Synonyms & Antonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about content

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Examples of content in a Sentence

Adjective The baby looks content in her crib. A fancy hotel is not necessary; I'd be content with a warm meal and a clean place to sleep. No, I don't want to play. I'm content to watch. Not content to stay at home, she set off to see the world at the age of 16. Polls show that voters are growing less and less content with the current administration. Verb The toys contented the children, at least for a little while. a person easily contented by life's simple pleasures

First Known Use of content

Noun (1)

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

1579, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for content

Noun (1)

Middle English, borrowed from Anglo-French & Medieval Latin; Anglo-French, borrowed from Medieval Latin contentum (usually in plural contenta), noun derivative from neuter past participle of Latin continēre "to hold together, restrain, have as contents" — more at contain

Adjective

Middle English, borrowed from Anglo-French, going back to Latin contentus "satisfied," from past participle of continēre "to hold together, restrain, have as contents" — more at contain

Note: The sense "satisfied" of Latin contentus presumably developed from the more literal meaning "self-contained, restrained, held in." This is still somewhat apparent in early uses, as in this passage from Plautus's Poenulus: "ego faxo posthac di deaeque ceteri / contentiores mage erunt atque avidi minus, / quom scibunt, ut Veneri adierit leno manum." ("I will make the other gods and goddesses more restrained (contentiores) and less greedy when they know how the procurer played a trick on Venus.")

Verb

Middle English contenten "to rest satisfied, satisfy," borrowed from Anglo-French contenter "to satisfy," borrowed from Medieval Latin contentāre, verbal derivative of Latin contentus "satisfied" — more at content entry 2

Noun (2)

noun derivative of content entry 2 or content entry 3

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