[con.ti.nent] adj [ME, fr. MF, fr. L continent-, continens, fr. prp. of continere to hold in--more at contain] (14c) 1: exercising continence
2. obs: restrictive -- con.ti.nent.ly adv
[2]con.ti.nent n [in senses 1 & 2, fr. L continent-, continens, prp. of continere, to hold together, contain; in senses 3 & 4, fr. L continent-, continens continuous mass of land, mainland, fr. continent-, continens, prp.] (1541) 1 archaic: container, confines
2. archaic: epitome
3: mainland
4. a: one of the six or seven great divisions of land on the globe b cap: the continent of Europe--used with the