- self-restrained; temperate
- characterized by self-restraint in, esp. by total abstinence from, sexual activity
- Obs. restrictive
Origin of continent
Old French from Classical Latin continens, present participle of continere: see contain- Rare a thing that retains or contains something
- the mainland: now rare except in the Continent, all of Europe except the British Isles
- any of the main large land areas of the earth, conventionally regarded (with or without outlying islands) as units; Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, North America, South America, and, usually, Antarctica