continence

English

Etymology

Dated from the 14th century as Middle English contynence, from Old French continence, from Latin continentia (“a repression”). See also countenance.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈkɒntɪnəns/

  • Audio (UK)

    (file)

Noun

continence (usually uncountable, plural continences)

1. (urology) The voluntary control of urination and defecation.
2. Moderation or self-restraint, especially in sexual activity; abstinence.
   • For quotations using this term, see Citations:continence.
   • 1700, [John] Dryden, “Preface”, in Fables Ancient and Modern; […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], OCLC 228732415:

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

   • 1650, Jeremy Taylor, The Rule and Exercises of Holy Living

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

3. Uninterrupted course; continuity.

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

Alternative forms

• continency

Synonyms

• (moderation or self-restraint): asceticism, temperance
• (uninterrupted course): See also Thesaurus:continuity

Antonyms

• (all): incontinence
• (moderation or self-restraint): acrasia, acrasy, intemperance
• (uninterrupted course): See also Thesaurus:discontinuity

Related terms

► English terms derived from the Proto-Indo-European root *ten-‎ (0 c, 47 e)

Translations

voluntary control of urination and defecation

• Bulgarian: задържане n (zadǎržane)
• Dutch: continentie f
• Finnish: pidättäminen (act), pidätyskyky (ability)

• Irish: coinneálacht f
• 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)
• Dutch: ingetogenheid (nl) f, onthouding (nl) f
• Finnish: pidättyvyys (fi)
• Greek:

  Ancient Greek: ἐγκράτεια f (enkráteia)

• Irish: geanmnaíocht f, measarthacht f, féinsmacht collaí m

• Italian: moderazione (it) f, astinenza (it) f, continenza (it)
• Mizo: insumtheihna
• Scottish Gaelic: féin-riaghladh m, ceannsachd f, geanasachd f, geanachd f, stuamachd f, geantachd f, geamnaidheachd f, measarrachd f, stuaim f
• Swedish: avhållsamhet (sv), återhållsamhet (sv), måttlighet
• Welsh: cymgadwriaeth f, diweirdeb (cy) m, diweirdab m, diweiredd m, ymarbed m or f, ymatal (cy) m, ymataliad m, ymataliaeth f

See also

• countenance

References

• Douglas Harper (2001–2021) , “continence”, in Online Etymology Dictionary
• continence in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.
• continence at OneLook Dictionary Search

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French

Etymology

From Latin continentia.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /kɔ̃.ti.nɑ̃s/

Noun

continence f (plural continences)

1. continence

Related terms

• contenance

Further reading

• “continence” in Trésor de la langue française informatisé (The Digitized Treasury of the French Language).