v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Contained p. pr. & vb. n. Containing. ] [ OE. contenen, conteinen, F. contenir, fr. L. continere, -tentum; con- + tenere to hold. See Tenable, and cf. Countenance. ] 1. To hold within fixed limits; to comprise; to include; to inclose; to hold. [ 1913 Webster ] Behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens can not contain thee; how much less this house! 2 Chron. vi. 18. [ 1913 Webster ] When that this body did contain a spirit. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ] What thy stores contain bring forth. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ] 2. To have capacity for; to be able to hold; to hold; to be equivalent to; as, a bushel contains four pecks. [ 1913 Webster ] 3. To put constraint upon; to restrain; to confine; to keep within bounds. [ Obs., exept as used reflexively. ] [ 1913 Webster ] The king's person contains the unruly people from evil occasions. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ] Fear not, my lord: we can contain ourselves. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ] |