Webster's English Dictionary

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continent

1. con.ti.nent \'ka:nt-*n-*nt\ aj [ME, fr. MF, fr. L continent-, continens, 
   fr. prp. of contine]-re to hold in 1: exercising continence  obs  2: 
   RESTRICTIVE  - con.ti.nent.ly av
2. con.ti.nent \'ka:nt-*n-*nt, 'ka:nt-n*nt\ n [in senses 1 & 2, fr. L 
   continent-, continens, prp. of contineB-re to hold together, contain; in 
   senses 3 & 4, fr. L continent-, continens continuous mass of land, 
   mainland, fr. continent-, continens, prp. archaic  1: CONTAINER, RECEPTACLE 
    archaic  2: a summary example : EPITOME  3: MAINLAND  4a: one of the usu. 
   seven great divisions of land on the globe  cap  4b: the continent of 
   Europe - used with the