Dictionary

continence en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• /ˈkɒntɪnəns/
• (Southern-England) audio

Etymology

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

Meanings

1. (uncountable, usually) The voluntary control of urination and defecation.
   • To maintain continence, the puborectalis muscle chokes the anal canal. The sling of tissue is supposed to release during defecation. Mine has not been doing that. 2022 October 2, Cara Schacter, “My Year of Stress and Constipation”, in The New York Times:
2. (uncountable, usually) Moderation or self-restraint, especially in sexual activity; abstinence.
   • He knew what to say; he knew also, when to leave off, — a continence which is practised by few writers. 1700, [John] Dryden, “Preface”, in Fables Ancient and Modern; […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC:
   • Chastity is either abstinence or continence: abstinence is that of virgins or widows; continence of married persons. 1651, Jer[emy] Taylor, The Rule and Exercises of Holy Living. […], 2nd edition, London: […] Francis Ashe […], →OCLC:
   • For this was a line so little frequented, especially at this hour, when the driver, the stoker, the guard and the station staffs all along the line, were anhelating towards their wives, after the long hours of continence, that the train would hardly draw up, when it would be off again, like a bouncing ball. 1953, Samuel Beckett, Watt, [Paris]: Olympia Press, →OCLC:
   • For quotations using this term, see Citations:continence.
3. (uncountable, usually) Uninterrupted course; continuity.
   • the Continence of the Cause should be divided 1726, John Ayliffe, Parergon Juris Canonici Anglicani: Or, A Commentary, by Way of Supplement to the Canons and Constitutions of the Church of England. […], London: […] D. Leach, and sold by John Walthoe […], →OCLC:

Forms

Antonyms

acrasy (antonym(s) of “moderation or self-restraint”) · incontinence (antonym(s) of “all”) · akrasia (antonym(s) of “moderation or self-restraint”) · intemperance (antonym(s) of “moderation or self-restraint”)

Relateds

countenance

Synonyms

temperance (moderation or self-restraint) · asceticism (moderation or self-restraint)

Translations (44)

fi pidätyskyky (voluntary control of urination and defecation) · gd féin-riaghladh (moderation or self-restraint, especially in sexual activity; abstinence) · sv avhållsamhet (moderation or self-restraint, especially in sexual activity; abstinence) · gd stuamachd (moderation or self-restraint, especially in sexual activity; abstinence) · cy ymataliaeth (moderation or self-restraint, especially in sexual activity; abstinence) · gd geanasachd (moderation or self-restraint, especially in sexual activity; abstinence) · lus insumna (voluntary control of urination and defecation) · grc ἐγκράτεια (moderation or self-restraint, especially in sexual activity; abstinence) · nl continentie (voluntary control of urination and defecation) · nl onthouding (moderation or self-restraint, especially in sexual activity; abstinence) · gd ceannsachd (moderation or self-restraint, especially in sexual activity; abstinence) · it moderazione (moderation or self-restraint, especially in sexual activity; abstinence) · bg задържане (voluntary control of urination and defecation) · it astinenza (moderation or self-restraint, especially in sexual activity; abstinence) · cy diweirdab (moderation or self-restraint, especially in sexual activity; abstinence) · cy diweiredd (moderation or self-restraint, especially in sexual activity; abstinence) · es continencia (moderation or self-restraint, especially in sexual activity; abstinence) · es continencia (voluntary control of urination and defecation) · ga geanmnaíocht (moderation or self-restraint, especially in sexual activity; abstinence) · ga coinneálacht (voluntary control of urination and defecation) · gd geanachd (moderation or self-restraint, especially in sexual activity; abstinence) · ga féinsmacht collaí (moderation or self-restraint, especially in sexual activity; abstinence) · nl ingetogenheid (moderation or self-restraint, especially in sexual activity; abstinence) · fi pidättäminen (voluntary control of urination and defecation) · cy diweirdeb (moderation or self-restraint, especially in sexual activity; abstinence) · fi pidättyvyys (moderation or self-restraint, especially in sexual activity; abstinence) · gd geantachd (moderation or self-restraint, especially in sexual activity; abstinence) · sv återhållsamhet (moderation or self-restraint, especially in sexual activity; abstinence) · bg въздържаност (moderation or self-restraint, especially in sexual activity; abstinence) · it continenza (voluntary control of urination and defecation) · bg умереност (moderation or self-restraint, especially in sexual activity; abstinence) · cy cymgadwriaeth (moderation or self-restraint, especially in sexual activity; abstinence) · cy ymatal (moderation or self-restraint, especially in sexual activity; abstinence) · ga measarthacht (moderation or self-restraint, especially in sexual activity; abstinence) · gd stuaim (moderation or self-restraint, especially in sexual activity; abstinence) · sv måttlighet (moderation or self-restraint, especially in sexual activity; abstinence) · lus insumtheihna (voluntary control of urination and defecation) · cy ymataliad (moderation or self-restraint, especially in sexual activity; abstinence) · cy ymarbed (moderation or self-restraint, especially in sexual activity; abstinence) · it continenza (moderation or self-restraint, especially in sexual activity; abstinence) · gd measarrachd (moderation or self-restraint, especially in sexual activity; abstinence) · gd geamnaidheachd (moderation or self-restraint, especially in sexual activity; abstinence) · cs zdrženlivost (moderation or self-restraint, especially in sexual activity; abstinence) · lus insumtheihna (moderation or self-restraint, especially in sexual activity; abstinence)