continentia Latin · revision 31806

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=190–159 BC, Terence|origins=ine-pro *ten-}}

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''continentia''' ''f'' (genitive continentiae); first declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is formed from [[continēns|t=self-restrained]], the present participle of [[contineō|t=to hold together, restrain]], with the suffix [[m|la|-ia]].^(OLD 2012)^(TLL)^(Köbler 2010) De Vaan traces ⟨teneō⟩ to [[itc-pro|*tenē-|alt=*t(e)nē-|t=to hold]] and [[ine-pro|*ten-|t=to stretch]], cognate with [[xum|tenitu|t=let him hold]], [[sa|तनोति|tr=tanóti|t=stretches]] and [[grc|τείνω|tr=teínō|t=to stretch]].^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The OLD's first example is Terence's ''Andria'', “a great example of self-restraint”.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Its main sense is restraint of one's passions and appetites, self-control, often of abstinence from pleasures, money or women;^(OLD 2012)^(TLL)^(Lewis & Short 1879) Cicero defines it as the virtue by which desire is governed by reason.^(OLD 2012)^(TLL)^(Lewis & Short 1879) Suetonius uses it literally of holding back wind, in Claudius' edict permitting it at table.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) Jerome has the plural, of fasts and abstinences.^(TLL)

+

+ Church Latin glosses it “abstinence, restraint, self-denial”.^(Stelten 1995) In medieval sources it means chastity, and also context or connection, appurtenances, contents, and bearing or demeanour.^(Niermeyer 1976)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 190–159 BC – Terence of a youth's self-restraint.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero defines it as desire ruled by reason.^(TLL)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 75–c. 150 AD – Suetonius of holding back wind.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * late 14th century – Borrowed through Old French into English as [[m|en|continence]].^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A holding back, repression.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # [[m|en|self-control|alt=Self-control]], restraint; [[m|en|abstinence]], [[m|en|continence]].^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)^(Stelten 1995)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' [[m|en|chastity|alt=Chastity]].^(Niermeyer 1976)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' Context, connection; appurtenances; contents; bearing, demeanour.^(Niermeyer 1976)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[contineō]]

+ * [[continēns]]

+ * [[en|continence]]

+ * [[en|countenance]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ The neuter plural ''continentia'' of the participle [[continēns]] means “neighbouring places, surroundings”.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Stelten 1995)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}