continence

English

Etymology

Dated from the 14th Century CE; from Old French continence, from Latin continentia (“a repression”).

Noun

continence (uncountable)

1. The voluntary control of urination and defecation.
2. Moderation or self-restraint, especially in sexual activity; abstinence.
   • For usage examples of this term, see the citations page.
   • Dryden

     He knew what to say; he knew also, when to leave off, — a continence which is practiced by few writers.

   • Jeremy Taylor

     Chastity is either abstinence or continence: abstinence is that of virgins or widows; continence, that of married persons.

3. Uninterrupted course; continuity.

   (Can we find and add a quotation of Ayliffe to this entry?)

Antonyms

• incontinence

Related terms

• continent

Translations

voluntary control of urination and defecation

• Bulgarian: задържане (bg) n (zadǎržane)
• Finnish: pidättäminen (act), pidätyskyky (ability)

• Italian: continenza (it) f
• Mizo: insumna, insumtheihna

moderation or self-restraint, especially in sexual activity; abstinence

• Bulgarian: въздържаност (bg) f (vǎzdǎržanost), умереност (bg) f (umerenost)
• Finnish: pidättyvyys (fi)
• Italian: moderazione (it) f, astinenza (it) f, continenza (it)

• Mizo: insumtheihna
• Swedish: avhållsamhet (sv), återhållsamhet (sv), måttlighet (sv)

References

• “continence” in Douglas Harper, Online Etymology Dictionary (2001).