Etymologically
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continental

This is the current revision of this entry, as edited by bogdan on 17 October 2026 at 03:01. This address is a permanent link to this version.
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Pronunciation

  • IPA: /ˌkɒntɪˈnɛntl̩/ (UK); /ˌkɑntɪˈnɛntl̩/ (US)[1]

Etymology

It is from continent with the suffix -al.[2][3][4]

Earliest recorded meaning

Of the mainland of Europe, as opposed to Great Britain: 1760.[2][5]

Semantic evolution

Relating to the American colonies collectively during the Revolution is from 1774–75,[2][5] and the noun, a soldier of the regular army of the colonies, from 1777.[2] The paper money issued by the Continental Congress lost its value, giving the expression not worth a continental, no earlier than 1851.[2] As a purely geographical term, relating to a continent, it is from 1818.[2][5] Continental breakfast is attested by 1855,[2] and of climate from 1865.[5] A continental divide is from 1869,[5] and the continental shelf is a later term.[4]

Timeline

  • 1760 – of mainland Europe.[5]
  • 1774 – of the American colonies.[2]
  • 1777 – a Continental soldier (noun).[2]
  • 1818 – of a continent.[5]
  • 1851 – not worth a continental.[2]
  • 1855 – continental breakfast.[2]

Modern meaning

Adjective

  1. Of, relating to or characteristic of a continent.
  2. Of or relating to the mainland of Europe, as opposed to Britain.
  3. (US history) Of the American colonies during the Revolutionary War.

Noun

  1. An inhabitant of the mainland of Europe.
  2. (US history) A soldier of the Continental Army, or a banknote issued by the Continental Congress.

Word family

  • continentalism
  • continentalist
  • continentally
  • intercontinental
  • bicontinental
  • continentality
  • continentalize
  • epicontinental

References

  1. ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  3. ^ Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
  4. ^ a b Shorter Oxford English Dictionary on Historical Principles (2002), 5th ed., ed. William R. Trumble and Angus Stevenson, Oxford: Oxford University Press
  5. ^ a b c d e f g Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press