‖n. pl. [ NL., from Gr. &unr_; a little dart. ] (Zool.) Threadlike defensive organs, composed largely of nettling cells (cnidæ), thrown out of the mouth or special pores of certain Actiniæ when irritated. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ NL., from Gr. &unr_;, fr. &unr_;, dim. &unr_; dart. ] (Zool.) Anciently, a snake, called dart snake; now, one of a genus of reptiles closely allied to the lizards. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. conticens, p. pr. of conticere; con- + tacere to be silent. ] Silent. [ R. ] “The guests sit conticent.” Thackeray. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. contignatio, fr. contignare to join with beams; con- + tignum beam. ] 1. The act or process of framing together, or uniting, as beams in a fabric. Burke. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A framework or fabric, as of beams. Sir H. Wotton. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ LL. contiguatus. ] Contiguous; touching. [ Obs. ] Holland. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. contiguité, LL. contiguitas. ] The state of being contiguous; intimate association; nearness; proximity. [ 1913 Webster ]

The convicinity and contiguity of the two parishes. T. Warton. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. contiguus; akin to contigere to touch on all sides. See Contingent. ] In actual contact; touching; also, adjacent; near; neighboring; adjoining. [ 1913 Webster ]

The two halves of the paper did not appear fully divided . . . but seemed contiguous at one of their angles. Sir I. Newton. [ 1913 Webster ]

Sees no contiguous palace rear its head. Goldsmith. [ 1913 Webster ]

Contiguous angles. See Adjacent angles, under Angle.

Syn. -- Adjoining; adjacent. See Adjacent.

-- Con*tig"u*ous*ly, adv. -- Con*tig"u*ous*ness, n. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ , n. [ F. continence, L. continentia. See Continent, and cf. Countenance. ] 1. Self-restraint; self-command. [ 1913 Webster ]

He knew what to say; he knew also, when to leave off, -- a continence which is practiced by few writers. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The restraint which a person imposes upon his desires and passions; the act or power of refraining from indulgence of the sexual appetite, esp. from unlawful indulgence; sometimes, moderation in sexual indulgence. [ 1913 Webster ]

If they [ the unmarried and widows ] have not continency, let them marry. 1 Cor. vii. 9 (Rev. Ver. ). [ 1913 Webster ]

Chastity is either abstinence or continence: abstinence is that of virgins or widows; continence, that of married persons. Jer. Taylor. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Uninterrupted course; continuity. [ Obs. ] Ayliffe. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. continens, -entis, prop., p. pr. of continere to hold together, to repress: cf. F. continent. See Contain. ] 1. Serving to restrain or limit; restraining; opposing. [ Obs. ] Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Exercising restraint as to the indulgence of desires or passions; temperate; moderate. [ 1913 Webster ]

Have a continent forbearance till the speed of his rage goes slower. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Abstaining from sexual intercourse; exercising restraint upon the sexual appetite; esp., abstaining from illicit sexual intercourse; chaste. [ 1913 Webster ]

My past life [ 1913 Webster ]

Hath been as continent, as chaste, as true, [ 1913 Webster ]

As I am now unhappy. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Not interrupted; connected; continuous; as, a continent fever. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

The northeast part of Asia is, if not continent with the west side of America, yet certainly it is the least disoined by sea of all that coast. Berrewood. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. continens, prop., a holding together: cf. F. continent. See Continent, a. ] 1. That which contains anything; a receptacle. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

The smaller continent which we call a pipkin. Bp. Kennet. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. One of the grand divisions of land on the globe; the main land; specifically (Phys. Geog.), a large body of land differing from an island, not merely in its size, but in its structure, which is that of a large basin bordered by mountain chains; as, the continent of North America. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ The continents are now usually regarded as six in number: North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa, and Australia. But other large bodies of land are also reffered to as continents; as, the Antarctic continent; the continent of Greenland. Europe, Asia, and Africa are often grouped together as the Eastern Continent, and North and South America as the Western Continent. [ 1913 Webster ]

The Continent, the main land of Europe, as distinguished from the islands, especially from England. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. 1. Of or pertaining to a continent. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Of or pertaining to the main land of Europe, in distinction from the adjacent islands, especially England; as, a continental tour; a continental coalition. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

No former king had involved himself so frequently in the labyrinth of continental alliances. Hallam. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Amer. Hist.) Of or pertaining to the confederated colonies collectively, in the time of the Revolutionary War; as, Continental money. [ 1913 Webster ]

The army before Boston was designated as the Continental army, in contradistinction to that under General Gage, which was called the “Ministerial army.” W. Irving. [ 1913 Webster ]

Continental Congress. See under Congress. --
Continental system (Hist.), the blockade of Great Britain ordered by Napoleon by the decree of Berlin, Nov. 21, 1806; the object being to strike a blow at the maritime and commercial supremacy of Great Britain, by cutting her off from all intercourse with the continent of Europe. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. (Amer. Hist.) A soldier in the Continental army. See Continental, a., 3. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Amer. Hist.) a piece of the Continental currency, paper money issued under authority of the Continental Congress. See Continental, a., 3. [ 1913 Webster ]

"Not worth a continental." was said of Continental currency after the American revolution, when it was considered almost worthless. Eventually, under Alexander Hamilton's direction at the Treasury department, the currency was all redeemed at full value. [ PJC ]

. the movements of continents relative to each other across the Earth's surface; see plate tectonics. [ PJC ]

. (Automobiles) A transmission arrangement in which the longitudinal crank shaft drives the rear wheels through a clutch, change-speed gear, countershaft, and two parallel side chains, in order. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

. A broad ice sheet resting on a plain or plateau and spreading outward from a central névé, or region of accumulation. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

def>A method of pronouncing Latin and Greek in which the vowels have their more familiar Continental values, as in German and Italian, the consonants being pronounced mostly as in English. The stricter form of this method of pronouncing Latin approaches the Roman, the modified form the English, pronunciation. The Continental method of Greek pronunciation is often called Erasmian. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

. (Hist.) The system of commercial blockade aiming to exclude England from commerce with the Continent instituted by the
Berlin decree, which Napoleon I. issued from Berlin Nov. 21, 1806, declaring the British Isles to be in a state of blockade, and British subjects, property, and merchandise subject to capture, and excluding British ships from all parts of Europe under French dominion. The retaliatory measures of England were followed by the
Milan decree, issued by Napoleon from Milan Dec. 17, 1807, imposing further restrictions, and declaring every ship going to or from a port of England or her colonies to be lawful prize. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

adv. In a continent manner; chastely; moderately; temperately. [ 1913 Webster ]

adj. involving the entire continent. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. See Contingency. [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. Contingencies /plu>. [ Cf. F. contingence. ] 1. Union or connection; the state of touching or contact. “Point of contingency.” J. Gregory. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The quality or state of being contingent or casual; the possibility of coming to pass. [ 1913 Webster ]

Aristotle says we are not to build certain rules on the contingency of human actions. South. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. An event which may or may not occur; that which is possible or probable; a fortuitous event; a chance. [ 1913 Webster ]

The remarkable position of the queen rendering her death a most important contingency. Hallam. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. An adjunct or accessory. Wordsworth. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. (Law) A certain possible event that may or may not happen, by which, when happening, some particular title may be affected.

Syn. -- Casualty; accident; chance. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. contingens, -entis, p. pr. of contingere to touch on all sides, to happen; con- + tangere to touch: cf. F. contingent. See Tangent, Tact. ] 1. Possible, or liable, but not certain, to occur; incidental; casual. [ 1913 Webster ]

Weighing so much actual crime against so much contingent advantage. Burke. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Dependent on that which is undetermined or unknown; as, the success of his undertaking is contingent upon events which he can not control. “Uncertain and contingent causes.” Tillotson. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Law) Dependent for effect on something that may or may not occur; as, a contingent estate. [ 1913 Webster ]

If a contingent legacy be left to any one when he attains, or if he attains, the age of twenty-one. Blackstone. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. An event which may or may not happen; that which is unforeseen, undetermined, or dependent on something future; a contingency. [ 1913 Webster ]

His understanding could almost pierce into future contingents. South. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. That which falls to one in a division or apportionment among a number; a suitable share; proportion; esp., a quota of troops. [ 1913 Webster ]

From the Alps to the border of Flanders, contingents were required . . . 200, 000 men were in arms. Milman. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a contingent manner; without design or foresight; accidentally. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The state of being contingent; fortuitousness. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Capable of being continued [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ OE. continuel, F. continuel. See Continue. ] 1. Proceeding without interruption or cesstaion; continuous; unceasing; lasting; abiding. [ 1913 Webster ]

He that is of a merry heart hath a continual feast. Prov. xv. 15. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Occuring in steady and rapid succession; very frequent; often repeated. [ 1913 Webster ]

The eye is deligh by a continental succession of small landscapes. W. Irwing. [ 1913 Webster ]

Continual proportionals (Math.), quantities in continued proportion. Brande & C.

Syn. -- Constant; prepetual; incessant; unceasing; uninterrupted; unintermitted; continuous. See Constant, and Continuous. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. 1. Without cessation; unceasingly; continuously; as, the current flows continually. [ 1913 Webster ]

Why do not all animals continually increase in bigness? Bentley. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. In regular or repeated succession; very often. [ 1913 Webster ]

Thou shalt eat bread at my table continually. 2 Sam. ix. 7. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OF. continuance. ] 1. A holding on, or remaining in a particular state; permanence, as of condition, habits, abode, etc.; perseverance; constancy; duration; stay. [ 1913 Webster ]

Great plagues, and of long continuance. Deut. xxviii. 59. [ 1913 Webster ]

Patient continuance in well-doing. Rom. ii. 7. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Uninterrupted succession; continuation; constant renewal; perpetuation; propagation. [ 1913 Webster ]

The brute immediately regards his own preservation or the continuance of his species. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A holding together; continuity. [ Obs. ] Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Law) (a) The adjournment of the proceedings in a cause from one day, or from one stated term of a court, to another. (b) The entry of such adjournment and the grounds thereof on the record. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Continuing; prolonged; sustained; as, a continuant sound. -- n. A continuant sound; a letter whose sound may be prolonged. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. continuatus, p. p. See Continue. ] 1. Immediately united together; intimately connected. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

We are of Him and in Him, even as though our very flesh and bones should be made continuate with his. Hooker. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Uninterrupted; unbroken; continual; continued. [ 1913 Webster ]

An untirable and continuate goodness. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. continuatio: cf. F. connuation. ] 1. That act or state of continuing; the state of being continued; uninterrupted extension or succession; prolongation; propagation. [ 1913 Webster ]

Preventing the continuation of the royal line. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. That which extends, increases, supplements, or carries on; as, the continuation of a story. [ 1913 Webster ]

My continuation of the version of Statius. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. continuatif. ] 1. (Logic) A term or expression denoting continuance. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

To these may be added continuatives; as, Rome remains to this day; which includes, at least, two propositions, viz., Rome was, and Rome is. I. Watts. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Gram.) A word that continues the connection of sentences or subjects; a connective; a conjunction. [ 1913 Webster ]

Continuatives . . . consolidate sentences into one continuous whole. Harris. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. continuateur. ] One who, or that which, continues; esp., one who continues a series or a work; a continuer. Sir T. Browne. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Continued p. pr. & vb. n. Continuing. ] [ F. continuer, L. continuare, -tinuatum, to connect, continue, fr. continuus. See Continuous, and cf. Continuate. ] 1. To remain in a given place or condition; to remain in connection with; to abide; to stay. [ 1913 Webster ]

Here to continue, and build up here
A growing empire. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

They continue with me now three days, and have nothing to eat. Matt. xv. 32. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To be permanent or durable; to endure; to last. [ 1913 Webster ]

But now thy kingdom shall not continue. 1 Sam. xiii. 14. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To be steadfast or constant in any course; to persevere; to abide; to endure; to persist; to keep up or maintain a particular condition, course, or series of actions; as, the army continued to advance. [ 1913 Webster ]

If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed. John viii. 31.

Syn. -- To persevere; persist. See Persevere. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. 1. To unite; to connect. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

the use of the navel is to continue the infant unto the mother. Sir T. browne. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To protract or extend in duration; to preserve or persist in; to cease not. [ 1913 Webster ]

O continue thy loving kindness unto them that know thee. Ps. xxxvi. 10. [ 1913 Webster ]

You know how to make yourself happy by only continuing such a life as you have been long accustomed to lead. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To carry onward or extend; to prolong or produce; to add to or draw out in length. [ 1913 Webster ]

A bridge of wond'rous length,
From hell continued, reaching th' utmost orb
of this frail world. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. To retain; to suffer or cause to remain; as, the trustees were continued; also, to suffer to live. [ 1913 Webster ]

And how shall we continue Claudio. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

p. p. & a. Having extension of time, space, order of events, exertion of energy, etc.; extended; protracted; uninterrupted; also, resumed after interruption; extending through a succession of issues, session, etc.; as, a continued story. “Continued woe.” Jenyns. “Continued succession.” Locke. [ 1913 Webster ]

Continued bass (Mus.), a bass continued through an entire piece of music, while the other parts of the harmony are indicated by figures beneath the bass; the same as thorough bass or figured bass; basso continuo. [ It. ] --
Continued fever (Med.), a fever which presents no interruption in its course. --
Continued fraction (Math.), a fraction whose numerator is 1, and whose denominator is a whole number plus a fraction whose numerator is 1 and whose denominator is a whole number, plus a fraction, and so on. --
Continued proportion (Math.), a proportion composed of two or more equal ratios, in which the consequent of each preceding ratio is the same with the antecedent of the following one; as, 4 : 8 : 8 : 16 :: 16 : 32. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. Continuously. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who continues; one who has the power of perseverance or persistence. “Indulgent continuers in sin.” Hammond. [ 1913 Webster ]

I would my horse had the speed of your tongue, and so good a continuer. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. Continuities /plu>. [ L. continuitas: cf. F. continuité. See Continuous. ] the state of being continuous; uninterrupted connection or succession; close union of parts; cohesion; as, the continuity of fibers. Grew. [ 1913 Webster ]

The sight would be tired, if it were attracted by a continuity of glittering objects. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

Law of continuity (Math. & Physics), the principle that nothing passes from one state to another without passing through all the intermediate states. --
Solution of continuity. (Math.) See under Solution. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ It. ] (Mus.) Basso continuo, or continued bass. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. continuus, fr. continere to hold together. See Continent. ] 1. Without break, cessation, or interruption; without intervening space or time; uninterrupted; unbroken; continual; unceasing; constant; continued; protracted; extended; as, a continuous line of railroad; a continuous current of electricity. [ 1913 Webster ]

he can hear its continuous murmur. Longfellow. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Bot.) Not deviating or varying from uninformity; not interrupted; not joined or articulated. [ 1913 Webster ]

Continuous brake (Railroad), a brake which is attached to each car a train, and can be caused to operate in all the cars simultaneously from a point on any car or on the engine. --
Continuous impost. See Impost.

Syn. -- Continuous, Continual. Continuous is the stronger word, and denotes that the continuity or union of parts is absolute and uninterrupted; as, a continuous sheet of ice; a continuous flow of water or of argument. So Daniel Webster speaks of “a continuous and unbroken strain of the martial airs of England.” Continual, in most cases, marks a close and unbroken succession of things, rather than absolute continuity. Thus we speak of continual showers, implying a repetition with occasional interruptions; we speak of a person as liable to continual calls, or as subject to continual applications for aid, etc. See Constant. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a continuous maner; without interruption. -- Con*tin"u*ous*ness, n. [1913 Webster]

a. Admitting of being discontinued. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. The act of discontinuing, or the state of being discontinued; want of continued connection or continuity; breaking off; cessation; interruption; as, a discontinuance of conversation or intercourse; discontinuance of a highway or of travel. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Law) (a) A breaking off or interruption of an estate, which happened when an alienation was made by a tenant in tail, or other tenant, seized in right of another, of a larger estate than the tenant was entitled to, whereby the party ousted or injured was driven to his real action, and could not enter. This effect of such alienation is now obviated by statute in both England and the United States. (b) The termination of an action in practice by the voluntary act of the plaintiff; an entry on the record that the plaintiff discontinues his action. (c) That technical interruption of the proceedings in pleading in an action, which follows where a defendant does not answer the whole of the plaintiff's declaration, and the plaintiff omits to take judgment for the part unanswered. Wharton's Law Dict. Burrill.

Syn. -- Cessation; intermission; discontinuation; separation; disunion; disjunction; disruption; break. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. discontinuation. ] Breach or interruption of continuity; separation of parts in a connected series; discontinuance. [ 1913 Webster ]

Upon any discontinuation of parts, made either by bubbles or by shaking the glass, the whole mercury falls. Sir I. Newton. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Discontinued p. pr. & vb. n. Discontinuing. ] [ Cf. F. discontinuer. ] To interrupt the continuance of; to intermit, as a practice or habit; to put an end to; to cause to cease; to cease using, to stop; to leave off. [ 1913 Webster ]

Set up their conventicles again, which had been discontinued. Bp. Burnet. [ 1913 Webster ]

I have discontinued school
Above a twelvemonth. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Taught the Greek tongue, discontinued before in these parts the space of seven hundred years. Daniel. [ 1913 Webster ]

They modify and discriminate the voice, without appearing to discontinue it. Holder. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. 1. To lose continuity or cohesion of parts; to be disrupted or broken off. Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To be separated or severed; to part. [ 1913 Webster ]

Thyself shalt discontinue from thine heritage. Jer. xvii. 4. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Law) One whose possession of an estate is broken off, or discontinued; one whose estate is subject to discontinuance. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who discontinues, or breaks off or away from; an absentee. [ 1913 Webster ]

He was no gadder abroad, not discontinuer from his convent for a long time. Fuller. [ 1913 Webster ]