Dictionary-Definition.com :: Continent definition

Definition of 'continent'

adjective

Having control over urination and defecation [ant: incontinent]

adjective

Abstaining from sexual intercourse; "celibate priests" [syn: celibate, continent]

noun

One of the large landmasses of the earth; "there are seven continents"; "pioneers had to cross the continent on foot"

noun

The European mainland; "Englishmen like to visit the Continent but they wouldn't like to live there"

From: GCIDE

Encratite \En"cra*tite\, n. [L. Encratitae, pl., fr. Gr. ? self-disciplined; ? in + ? strength.] (Eccl. Hist.) One of a sect in the 2d century who abstained from marriage, wine, and animal food; -- called also Continent. [1913 Webster]

From: GCIDE

Continent \Con"ti*nent\, n. [L. continens, prop., a holding together: cf. F. continent. See Continent, a.]
1. That which contains anything; a receptacle. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]
The smaller continent which we call a pipkin. --Bp. Kennet. [1913 Webster]
2. One of the grand divisions of land on the globe; the main land; specifically (Phys. Geog.), a large body of land differing from an island, not merely in its size, but in its structure, which is that of a large basin bordered by mountain chains; as, the continent of North America. [1913 Webster]
Note: The continents are now usually regarded as six in number: North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa, and Australia. But other large bodies of land are also reffered to as continents; as, the Antarctic continent; the continent of Greenland. Europe, Asia, and Africa are often grouped together as the Eastern Continent, and North and South America as the Western Continent. [1913 Webster]
The Continent, the main land of Europe, as distinguished from the islands, especially from England. [1913 Webster]

From: GCIDE

Continent \Con"ti*nent\, a. [L. continens, -entis, prop., p. pr. of continere to hold together, to repress: cf. F. continent. See Contain.]
1. Serving to restrain or limit; restraining; opposing. [Obs.] --Shak. [1913 Webster]
2. Exercising restraint as to the indulgence of desires or passions; temperate; moderate. [1913 Webster]
Have a continent forbearance till the speed of his rage goes slower. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
3. Abstaining from sexual intercourse; exercising restraint upon the sexual appetite; esp., abstaining from illicit sexual intercourse; chaste. [1913 Webster]
My past life [1913 Webster]
Hath been as continent, as chaste, as true, [1913 Webster]
As I am now unhappy. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
4. Not interrupted; connected; continuous; as, a continent fever. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]
The northeast part of Asia is, if not continent with the west side of America, yet certainly it is the least disoined by sea of all that coast. --Berrewood. [1913 Webster]