Etymology: There is no corresponding use of content, contente, contento, contenta in the modern Romanic languages, which all express the sense by nouns derived from their actual past participle, as French contenu , Italian contenuto , Spanish contenido . Apparently, therefore, the English word is a substantive use of content adj.¹ representing Latin contentum that which is contained, plural contenta. The singular was formerly in use in senses in which the plural is now alone used; in senses 2, 3, contents was in the 17th cent. often construed as singular. N.E.D., (1893) noted: ‘The stress conˈtent is historical, and still common among the educated, but ˈcontent is now used by many, especially by young people; some make a difference, saying conˈtents, but cubic ˈcontent; and printers often use ˈcontents technically, while saying conˈtents generally. See Academy, 14 Nov. 1891’.

Etymology: Either < content v. or content adj.², (or perhaps < Italian contento ‘contentment, content’ (in Florio 1598): compare also Spanish contento, Portuguese contento contentment, liking.

Etymology: < Old French content, cuntent contention, quarrel, on Latin type *contentus , < content- participial stem of contendĕre to contend v.

Etymology: < Latin contentus.

Etymology: < French content = Provençal content , Italian contento , Spanish contento < Latin contentus contained, limited, restrained, whence self-restrained, satisfied, past participle of continēre to contain v.

Etymology: < French contenter = Provençal contentar , Spanish contentar , Portuguese contentar , Italian contentare , medieval Latin contentare , a Common Romanic derivative of contento , content adjective: see content adj.¹