continent

noun

1. One of the main contiguous landmasses, separated by water or geological features, on the surface of a planet, sometimes including its continental shelves and the islands on them.

   “But I should turn mine ears and hear The moanings of the homeless sea, ⁠The sound of streams that swift or slow ⁠Draw down Æonian hills, and sow The dust of continents to be; […]”

2. Each of the traditional main regions into which the Earth’s land surface is divided, including both an extent of mainland and various conventionally associated islands, etc; namely, Africa, Europe, Asia, Australasia/Oceania, North America, South America, and Antarctica.
3. (broadly, obsolete)A large contiguous landmass as opposed to its islands, peninsulas, and so forth; mainland. Also specifically, the Old World continent of Europe–Asia–Africa: see the Continent.

   “No man is an Iland, intire of it ſelfe; euery man is a peece of the Continent, a part of the maine; […]”

4. (figuratively)A large connected expanse of something in general.
5. (obsolete)Any continuous tract or area of land; country, connected region.
6. (obsolete)Land (as opposed to the water), dry land.

   “The carkas with the streame was carried downe, / But th’head fell backeward on the continent.”

7. (obsolete)The body or mass of a celestial body such as the sun or moon.
8. (obsolete)Container, vessel, something that holds or contains something else.
9. (obsolete)Space, capacity.
10. (obsolete)The principal or essential points of something viewed collectively: sum, summary, substance.

    “[…] Here's the scroll, The continent and summary of my fortune.”

11. An Encratite.

adj

1. Exercising self-restraint; controlled, temperate with respect to one’s bodily needs or passions, especially sex.

   “Have a continent forbearance till the speed of his rage goes slower.”

   “Their strength was the strength of men geographically beyond temptation: the poverty of Arabia made them simple, continent, enduring.”

   “A celibate himself, he was of the opinion that marriage was something of a concession to human frailty, to save from fornication those who could not be continent, so it was better to marry than to burn with lust.”

2. Having voluntary control over one’s urination or defecation.
3. (obsolete)Not interrupted; connected; continuous, whether in time or space.

   “a continent fever”

   “Affrike and Europe bordering on your land, And continent to your Dominions: […]”

   “The northeast part of Asia is, if not continent with the west side of America, yet certainly it is the least disjoined by sea of all that coast.”

4. (obsolete)Serving to restrain or limit; restraining; opposing.

   “There did I ſee that low ſpirited Swaine, [...] hight Coſtard, (Clow[ne]. O mee) ſorted and conſorted contrary to thy eſtabliſhed proclaymed Edict and continent Cannon; Which with, o with, but with this I paſſion to ſay wherewith: / Clo[wne]. With a Wench.”

   “Have a continent forbearance till the speed of his rage goes slower.”

5. (obsolete)Containing or capable of containing.

name

1. (obsolete)The Old World.

   “the whole Continent of Europe, Asia, Africa.”

2. (Ireland, UK)Mainland Europe, as seen from the British Isles.