continent

CONTINENT, adjective [Latin] 1. Refraining from unlawful sexual commerce, or moderate in the indulgence of lawful pleasure; chaste. 2. Restrained; moderate; temperate. Have a continent forbearance. 3. Opposing; restraining. 4. Continuous; connected; not interrupted. The North East part of Asia, if not continent with America-- A continent fever. More generally we now say a continued fever. CONTINENT, noun 1. In geography, a great extent of land, not disjoined or interrupted by a sea; a connected tract of land of great extent; as the Eastern and Western continent It differs from an isle only in extent. New Holland may be denominated a continent Britain is called a continent as opposed to the isle of Anglesey. In Spenser, continent is use for ground in general. 2. That which contains any thing. [Not used.]