continue English · revision 3372

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1340|origins=la continēre}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /kənˈtɪn.juː/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|contynuen]], [[bor|fro|continuer]] and directly [[bor|la|continuāre|t=to join together, make continuous]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(AHD 2000) from [[m|la|continuus|t=uninterrupted, continuous]],^(Etymonline)^(AHD 2000) from [[m|la|continēre|t=to hold together]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) the source of [[contain]].^(AHD 2000)^(Barnhart 1988) The SOED notes that some senses were influenced by ''contain''.^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ “To keep up, maintain, go on with”: before 1340^(OED 1989) or about 1340^(Barnhart 1988) or the mid-14th century.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ “To go forward, persevere in” is from the late 14th century,^(Etymonline) and “to cause to last” from about 1380.^(OED 1989) “To resume after a break”, as of a narrative, is from the early 15th century,^(Etymonline) 1425 in the OED.^(OED 1989) “To remain in a place, state or office” is also from the early 15th century.^(Etymonline) In law, “to postpone a hearing or trial” is from the mid-15th century^(Etymonline) or 1469, especially in Scotland.^(OED 1989) “To extend from one point to another” in space is from the 1660s.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1340 – to maintain, go on with.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+ * late 14th century – to go on, persevere.^(Etymonline)

+ * c. 1425 – to resume.^(OED 1989)

+ * early 15th century – to remain in a state.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1469 – to adjourn a case.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1660s – to extend in space.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To go on with an action or in a state; to [[persist]].^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+ # To last over a long period.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # To remain in the same place, condition or office.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # To resume after an interruption.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # To extend further in space or time.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # ''(law)'' To [[postpone]] or adjourn.^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[continuable]]

+ * [[continuer]]

+ * [[continuingly]]

+ * [[continuant]]

+ * [[continual]]

+ * [[continually]]

+ * [[continuation]]

+ * [[continuative]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[contain]]

+ * [[continent]]

+ * [[continental]]

+ * [[continuity]]

+ * [[continuous]]

+ * [[continuum]]

+ * [[discontinue]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}