CONTINENT

I. adjective see: contain Date: 14th century exercising continence, restrictive , ~ly adverb II. noun Etymology: in senses 1 & 2, from Latin ~-, continens, present participle of continēre, to hold together, contain; in senses 3 & 4, from Latin ~-, continens continuous mass of land, mainland, from ~-, continens, present participle Date: 1541 container , confines, epitome , mainland , 4. one of the six or seven great divisions of land on the globe, the ~ of Europe