Dictionary

incontinent en · ADJ

Pronunciation

• /ɪŋˈkɒntɪnənt/
• (Southern-England) audio

Etymology

From Middle English incontinent, from Old French incontinent, from Latin incontinens, from in + continens.

Meanings

1. (followed by of, often) Unable to contain or retain.
2. Plagued by incontinence; unable to retain natural discharges or evacuations, most commonly of urine or feces.
   • The male body, opened and bleeding, can assume the shameful attributes of the incontinent female body as both cause of and justification for its evident vulnerability and defeat. 2018 [1993], Gail Kern Paster, The Body Embarrassed, Cornell University, page 92:
   • About 90% of all koalas have chlamydia... which makes them incontinent, so they spend all day pissing themselves. 2016, Thoughty2, Is This the Most Stupid Animal in the World?, via YouTube:
3. Lacking moral or sexual restraint, moderation or self-control, especially of sexual desire.
4. Unrestrained or unceasing.
   • [Jesus] was borne in Bethlem a City of Juda: where incontinent by the glorification of the Angels, the agnition of the Shepeherds, the veneration of the wiſe men, the prophecy of holy Simeon, and the admiration of the Doctours, he was had in honour. 1569, Richard Grafton, “The Seuenth Age, and Seuenth Part of this Chronicle”, in A Chronicle at Large and Meere History of the Affayres of Englande […], volume I, London: […] Henry Denham, […], for Richarde Tottle and Humffrey Toye, →OCLC, page 75:
   • an incontinent river of pure water
5. (colloquial) Immediate; without delay.

Forms

Antonyms

continent · restrained

Deriveds

doubly incontinent · incontinently · incontinent ordinance

Synonyms

lewd · wanton

Translations (29)

gd mì-gheanmnaidh (lacking moral or sexual restraint) · it incontinente (unable to contain or retain) · ru распутный (lacking moral or sexual restraint) · is taumlaust (unable to contain or retain) · ru невоздержанный (unrestrained and unceasing) · oc incontinent (lacking the ability to restrain natural discharges) · fi pidäkkeetön (lacking moral or sexual restraint) · is óskrírlíf (lacking moral or sexual restraint) · bg разпуснат (lacking moral or sexual restraint) · fr incontinent (unable to contain or retain) · oc incontinent (unable to contain or retain) · cs inkontinentní (lacking the ability to restrain natural discharges) · bg незадържащ (unable to contain or retain) · ga neamhchoinneálach (lacking the ability to restrain natural discharges) · ru несдержанный (lacking the ability to restrain natural discharges) · fr incontinent (lacking moral or sexual restraint) · bg незадържащ (lacking the ability to restrain natural discharges) · fi pidätyskyvytön (lacking the ability to restrain natural discharges) · fr incontinent (lacking the ability to restrain natural discharges) · grc ἀκρατής (unrestrained and unceasing) · is taumlaus (unable to contain or retain) · fi estoton (lacking moral or sexual restraint) · bg невъздържан (unrestrained and unceasing) · bg безнравствен (lacking moral or sexual restraint) · is óskírlífur (lacking moral or sexual restraint) · is óhófsamur (unable to contain or retain) · oc incontinent (lacking moral or sexual restraint) · is óskírlíft (lacking moral or sexual restraint) · fi pidättelemätön (unrestrained and unceasing)

incontinent en · ADV

Pronunciation

• /ɪŋˈkɒntɪnənt/
• (Southern-England) audio

Etymology

From Middle English incontinent, from Old French incontinent, from Latin incontinens, from in + continens.

Meanings

1. (not-comparable, obsolete) Immediately, forthwith.
   • "As how, my lambkin," blushing, she replide, / "Because I in this dancing schoole abide? / If that it be, that breede's this discontent, / We will remoue the camp incontinent: / For shelter onelie, sweete heart, came I hither, / And to auoide the troblous stormie weather; / But now the coaste is cleare, we will be gonne, / Since, but thy self, true louer I haue none." 1593, Thomas Nashe, The Choice of Valentines:
   • He says he will return incontinent: c. 1603–1604 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Othello, the Moore of Venice”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene iii]:

incontinent en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• /ɪŋˈkɒntɪnənt/
• (Southern-England) audio

Etymology

From Middle English incontinent, from Old French incontinent, from Latin incontinens, from in + continens.

Meanings

1. (obsolete) One who is unchaste.
   • O, old Incontinent, dost not thou shame 1598, Beniamin Ionson [i.e., Ben Jonson], “Euery Man in His Humour. A Comœdie. […]”, in The Workes of Beniamin Ionson (First Folio), London: […] Will[iam] Stansby, published 1616, →OCLC, (please specify the act number in uppercase Roman numerals, and the scene number in lowercase Roman numerals):

Forms