continens

Forms

continēns (genitive continentis, comparative continentior, superlative continentissimus); third-declension one-termination adjective^[2][1]

Etymology

It is the present participle of contineō (“to hold together, contain”), used as an adjective.^[2][1] The verb is from con- (“together”) and teneō (“to hold”), which de Vaan derives from Proto-Italic *t(e)nē- and Proto-Indo-European *tn-eh₁- (“to hold”), a stative of the root “to stretch”.^[3] Cognate with Umbrian tenitu (“let him hold”) and Sanskrit तनोति (tanóti, “stretches”).^[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The Rhetorica ad Herennium has continuous speaking at the end of a speech, and Sisenna events set down in a continuous account;^[2] Köbler gives Cicero.^[4]

Semantic evolution

It is unbroken or continuous in space, as Hirtius' continuous flame that covered the forces, in time, and in sequence;^[2][1] in continentī and ex continentī are “at once, without delay”.^[2][1] It is adjacent or next, as Cicero's neighbouring lands, next in time, as Caesar's following days, and closely linked, as a cause.^[2][1] Of land it is forming a continuous mass, and as a feminine noun the mainland, as in Varro; inscriptions also use it of buildings joined to a town outside its walls.^[2][1] As a neuter noun it is in rhetoric the essential point, rendering Greek τὸ συνέχον (tò sunékhon), and a component part, as Varro's ear of grain with its grain, husk and awn.^[2][1]

Of temper it is moderate or self-restrained.^[1][5] In Christian and Medieval Latin it is chaste, and as a noun an ascetic.^[6] English continent in the late 14th century meant “self-restraining, temperate”.^[7]

Timeline

• 120–67 BC – Sisenna of a continuous account.^[2][4]
• 116–27 BC – Varro of the mainland.^[2][4]
• 81–43 BC – Cicero of neighbouring lands and the essential point.^[2][4]
• c. 50 BC – Caesar of the following days.^[2][4]
• late 14th century – Borrowed into English as continent.^[7]

Meanings

Adjective

1. Continuous, unbroken (in space, time, sequence);^[2][1][5] in continentī, at once.^[2][6]
2. Adjacent, neighbouring; immediately following; closely linked.^[2][1][5]
3. Forming the mainland.^[2]
4. Moderate, temperate, self-restrained;^[1][5] (Ecclesiastical Latin) chaste.^[6]

Noun

1. (feminine) The mainland, a continent.^[2][1][5]
2. (neuter, rhetoric) The essential point; a component part.^[2][1]
3. (Medieval Latin, masculine) An ascetic.^[6]

Word family

• incontinēns

Related words

• continenter
• contineō
• continuus
• continentia
• teneō
• English continent

References

1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ a b de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
4. ^ a b c d e Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
5. ^ a b c d e Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
6. ^ a b c d Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
7. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com