continence

English

Etymology

Dated from the 14th century; borrowed from Old French continence, from Latin continentia (“a repression”). See also countenance.

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 of use of this term, see Citations:continence.
   • (Can we date this quote by Dryden and provide title, author's full name, and other details?)

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

   • (Can we date this quote by Jeremy Taylor and provide title, author's full name, and other details?)

     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?)

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 PIE root *ten-‎ (0 c, 46 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

• “continence” in Douglas Harper, Online Etymology Dictionary, 2001–2020.
• continence in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911
• continence at OneLook Dictionary Search

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French

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /kɔ̃.ti.nɑ̃s/

Noun

continence f (plural continences)

1. continence