continent1
/ˈkɒntɪnənt
/noun
1Any of the world’s main continuous expanses of land (Europe, Asia, Africa, North and South America, Australia, Antarctica).This steep sided sea flows like a meeting place between the two continents of Africa and Asia....
- The Middle East and tropical Africa were the last continents that Europeans colonized.
- In fact, we know that tornadoes have occurred on all continents except Antarctica.
Synonyms
mainland
1.1 (also the Continent) The mainland of Europe as distinct from the British Isles: clubs sprang up in Britain and on the Continent
1.2 archaic A mainland contrasted with islands.Soon Sasha found herself riding in Hardy's carrier under the strange stars of the island continent....
- The island continent, Atlantis, began to tremble once more with extreme fury.
- Although it was a disaster it brought out some great characteristics of mateship and sacrifice for this little island continent of ours.
Origin
Mid 16th century (denoting a continuous tract of land): from Latin terra continens 'continuous land'.
The geographical term continent is from the Latin phrase (terra) continens ‘continuous land’. Continue (Middle English) comes from the same root.
Rhymes
continent2
/ˈkɒntɪnənt/adjective
1Able to control movements of the bowels and bladder.We compared the risk of urinary incontinence in the daughters of incontinent women with that in the daughters of continent women....
- This provides a mechanism to influence the two muscle groups to work in concert for continent urine storage and release.
- The patients in the study were losing the ability to dress themselves, bathe, use the toilet, clean themselves, and remain continent.
2Exercising self-restraint, especially sexually.They believed that the church should be made up of women and men who were sexually continent and who also abstained from wine and meat....
- They were sexually continent all their lives.
Derivatives
continence
/ noun ...- And it was St. Augustine who proclaimed, ‘Give me chastity and continence, but not yet.’
- Self-reports of urinary continence showed no difference between groups.
- A program which establishes continence is a necessary custodial program.
continently
- These are the potty training books, in which the heroine gets a new potty, expresses doubts, gives it a whirl, succeeds, buys new big-girl underwear, and lives continently ever after.
- They lived together continently for a year, and Birgitta was especially fervent in her prayers and ascetic devotions.
- In any event, if the conditions I mention about your living continently are met then you should be able to receive absolution and then the Eucharist.
Origin
Late Middle English (in (sense 2)): from Latin continent- 'holding together, restraining oneself', from continere (see contain).