Category:Contain

Con*tain", v. t. [imp. & p.p. Contained; p.pr. & vb.n. Containing.] Etym: [OE. contenen, conteinen, F. contenir, fr. L. continere, - tentum; con- + tenere to hold. See Tenable, and cf. Countenance.]

1. To hold within fixed limits; to comprise; to include; to inclose; to hold. Behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens can not contain thee; how much less this house! 2 Chron. vi. 18. When that this body did contain a spirit. Shak. What thy stores contain bring forth. Milton.

2. To have capacity for; to be able to hold; to hold; to be equivalent to; as, a bushel contains four pecks.

3. To put constraint upon; to restrain; to confine; to keep within bounds. [Obs., exept as used reflexively.] The king's person contains the unruly people from evil occasions. Spenser. Fear not, my lord: we can contain ourselves. Shak.

contain Con*tain", v. i.

Defn: To restrain desire; to live in continence or chastity. But if they can not contain, let them marry. 1 Cor. vii. 9.