continent

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
continent1

▶noun

• 1 any of the world's main continuous expanses of land (Europe, Asia, Africa, North and South America, Australia, Antarctica).

• 2 (also the Continent) the mainland of Europe as distinct from the British Isles.

– origin C16: from L. terra continens ‘continuous land’.

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
continent2

▶adjective

• 1 able to control movements of the bowels and bladder.

• 2 exercising self-restraint, especially sexually.

– derivatives
continence noun,
continently adverb.

– origin ME: from L. continent-, continere (see contain).