I. |känt ə n|ent ə l, -tə|ne-, -təl also rap. attrib ˈkäntˌne- adjective
Etymology: continent (II) + -al
1.
a. : of or relating to the continent of Europe or the countries of the continent of Europe as distinguished from the British Isles
b. : of or relating to the continent of No. America
c.
(1) often capitalized : of, relating to, or concerning the colonies or states later forming the U.S.
Continental Congress
(2) : worthless , confounded — used in imprecation in negative expressions such as not worth a continental damn
d. : of, relating to, or concerning the continental United States
2.
a. : of, relating to, or characteristic of a continent
continental waters
b. : having large daily and annual ranges of temperature (as in the interior of a continent)
c. : nonmarine
• con·ti·nen·tal·ly -t ə lē, -təlē, -li adverb
II. noun
( -s )
1.
a. often capitalized : an American soldier of the Revolution in the Continental army
b. : a piece of the Continental paper currency
c. : an inhabitant of a continent (as the continent of Europe)
2. : the least bit : damn
not worth a continental
don't care a continental
III. adjective
Usage: often capitalized
: of, relating to, or being a cuisine derived from the classic dishes of Europe and especially France
IV. noun
: a person born on the mainland of the United States and living in Puerto Rico or the Virgin Islands