See Also: continence(medicine)
Continence(health)
continence(dictionary)
continence(dictionary)

continence (iou)



continence noun. ME.
[Old & mod. French, or Latin continentia, from continent- pres. ppl stem of continere restrain: see CONTAIN, -ENCE.]
I.
Self-restraint. ME.
spec. Sexual self-restraint; esp. complete sexual abstinence. LME.
The possession of normal voluntary control over excretory functions. Opp. earlier incontinence. E20.
II.
Continuity. Only in E18.
continency noun (now rare) = CONTINENCE 1, 2 E16.