Contain

v. Forms: 3 conteini, 4 contenen, contienen, kunteyne, (pa. pple. y-contyened, y-contynent), 4–6 contene (chiefly Sc. and north.), 4–7 conteyn(e, contein(e, 5 Sc. conten, 6 contaigne, -teygne, Sc. -tean, 6–7 containe, -tayn(e, 7– contain. [ME. contein-e(n, conten-e, a. OF. conten-ir (3rd pers. pres. Norman conten-t, conten-ent, subj. contene, -teigne) = Pr. contener, -ir, Sp. contener, It. contenēre:—L. continēre, to hold together, keep together, comprehend, contain, f. con- together + tenēre to hold.]

  I.  To have in it, to hold; to comprise, enclose.

  1.  trans. To have in it, to hold. (Said of a vessel, a space, or the like.)

1382.  Wyclif, Jer. ii. 13. Wastid cisternes, that contenen [1388 holde] watris moun not.

c. 1490.  Promp. Parv., 91 (MS. K.). Conteynyn, hauyn or kepyn wit-innyn.

c. 1576.  Thynne, Ld. Burghley’s Crest, in Animadv., App. (1865), 115. In brittill glasse is wholsome wyne conteynde.

1673.  Ray, Journ. Low C., 64. The Juices … conteined in the Veins of the Earth.

1709.  Pope, Ess. Crit., 283. So vast a throng the stage can ne’er contain.

1860.  Trench, Serm. Westm. Ab., xx. 225. We were not formed to contain God’s truth, but to be contained by it.

  b.  To be capable of containing; to have capacity for: usually expressed by to HOLD.

1526–34.  Tindale, John ii. 6. And ther were stondynge theare sixe waterpottes of stone … contaynynge two or thre fyrkins a pece. And Jesus sayde vnto them: fyll the water pottes with water.

1530.  Palsgr., 496/1. This pot contayneth eyght quartes.

1875.  Ure, Dict. Arts, III. 1126. In the Wear the best coal is put into tubs, these are waggons without wheels, containing each 53 cwts.

  2.  To have as part (or the whole) of its contents or substance; to comprise, include.

c. 1340.  Richard Rolle of Hampole, Prick of Conscience, 999. Þe lawer werld … Contenes haly be elementes alle.

1340.  Ayenb., 118. Þe zeue benes þet byeþ y-contyened ine holi pater noster.

c. 1400.  Maundev. (Roxb.), xiii. 58. In þis rewme of Surry er many rewmes contende.

1480.  Caxton, Chron. Eng., ccxxi. 211. He vnclosed the lettre and saw what was conteyned therin.

1509.  Fisher, Fun. Serm. C’tess Richmond, Wks. 1876, I. 295. The crowne of our lady … after the manere of Rome conteyneth lx and thre aues.

1541.  Bellenden, Cron. Scot., Tabula sig. D iiij. The table … contenand the mater of euery buke.

1600.  J. Hamilton (title), Facile Traictise, Contenant, first: ane infallible reul … Nixt, a Declaration, etc.

1697.  Dryden, Virg. Georg., IV. 305. And Grandsires Grandsons the long List contains.

1863.  A. J. Horwood, Year-bks. 30–31 Edw. I., Pref. 22. The volume … having once contained many more [pages] than it does now.

1875.  Jowett, Plato (ed. 2), V. 18. The Laws … contain a few passages which are very grand and noble.

  b.  Of a material body or substance: To have in it (as a constituent element, or in combination).

1756.  C. Lucas, Ess. Waters, I. 84. Such waters as contain most air … are found the lightest and purest.

1831.  J. Davies, Manual Mat. Med., 273. Some of them contain besides, carbonic acid.

1860.  Tyndall, Glac., I. xx. 141. The rock … evidently contains a good deal of iron.

  † 3.  To include, comprise, extend over, measure (so much space, time, or other magnitude). Obs.

c. 1374.  Chaucer, Boeth., II. vii. 56. As myche space as þe see and [the] mareys contenen and ouergon. Ibid. (c. 1391), Astrol., I. § 7. The space bytwene contieneth a Mile-wey.

1398.  Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., III. vii. (1495), 53. Of all the fygures of the same lengthe the cercle is moost and most conteynyth.

c. 1425.  Wyntoun, Cron., III. iii. 171. Þe thryd elde … Contenys nyne hundyr yhere And twa.

1526–34.  Tindale, Acts i. 12. Then returned they … from mount-olivete, which is nye to Ierusalem, conteyninge a Saboth dayes iorney. [So 1557 Geneva]

1551.  Robinson, trans. More’s Utop., II. (Arb.), 72. The Iland of Utopia, conteynethe in breadthe … cc miles.

1563.  Shute, Archit., E iv a. Tuscana conteineth in height .6. Diameters.

1697.  Potter, Antiq. Greece, I. viii. (1715), 42. They were not exact Semicircles, but contain’d the bigger half of the Circle.

1703.  Moxon, Mech. Exerc., 263. That the first Story contain full 10 Foot in height.

  † b.  intr. with of = prec. Obs. rare.

1660.  Bloome, Archit., B d. Regula under Astragulus containeth of one part. Ibid., C a. The Pillar with all his ornaments, containeth of 10 Diameters.

  c.  Of a measure or magnitude: To comprise, be equal to (so much or so many of a smaller measure or magnitude, or a certain fraction of a larger).

1387.  Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), II. 235 (Mätz.). A cubite of gemetrie conteyneþ sixe comoun cubites.

c. 1391.  Chaucer, Astrol., I. § 8. A degre of a signe contieneth 60 Mynutis.

1611.  Bible, Ezek. xlv. 11. That the Bath may containe the tenth part of an Homer.

1875.  Ure, Dict. Arts, III. 1123. In Ireland the perch contains 7 yards, and the mile 2240.

Mod.  A pound avoirdupois contains 7000 grains.

  † 4.  To take up, occupy. (Cf. COMPRISE 4 c.)

c. 1374.  Chaucer, Troylus, III. 453. For þer was som Epistel … Þat walde as seith myn auctour wele contene Neigh half þis boke.

1483.  Caxton, Gold. Leg., 108/2. Yf I shold here expresse alle the myracles … It shold conteyne an hole volume.

1598.  Barckley, Felic. Man, III. (1603), 150. That matter alone would containe a reasonable volume.

1736.  Swift, Lett., 15 May. A complete history of the … absurd proceedings in this kingdom would contain twelve large volumes in folio.

  † 5.  To enclose (so much space, etc.). Said of a boundary line, or of a person. Obs.

1490.  Caxton, Eneydos, vii. heading, How dydo … boughte as moche londe … as she myghte conteyne wythin the space of the hide of an oxe.

c. 1500.  Melusine, 44. The grete compace of the ledder [thong], which conteyned wel the space of two mylles of grounde.

  b.  pass. Of a space, region, etc.: To be comprehended, included, or intercepted (within a certain space, between certain limits).

c. 1391.  Chaucer, Astrol., II. § 39. The arch meridian þat is contiened or [inter]cept by-twixe the cenyth and the equinoxial.

1530.  Palsgr., 34. The countreys that be conteygned betwene the ryver of Seyne & the ryver of Loyrre.

1584.  Powel, Lloyd’s Cambria, 1. That part conteined betweene the French Seas.

1603.  Knolles, Hist. Turks (1638), 184. The kingdome … was contained within the bounds of the lesser Asia.

Mod.  The Asteroids revolve in the space contained between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter.

  6.  Math. a. Geom. To enclose, include, form the boundary of (a figure, an angle); in pass. formerly to be contained under.

  A rectangle is still said to be contained under the two lines which form its length and breadth; so † transf. a composite number was formerly said to be contained under its factors.

  b.  Arith. and Alg. To have as a factor or sub-multiple; to be divisible by, without remainder (also, less strictly, with a remainder). In pass. (const. in): To divide, ‘go into’ (without, or less strictly with, a remainder).

1570.  Billingsley, Euclid, I. def. ix. If the lines which contain the angle be right lynes, then it is called a right-lyned angle. Ibid., def. xv. A circle is a plaine figure conteyned under one line, which is called a circumference. Ibid., VII. def. xix. 187. A square number is that … which is contayned vnder two equall numbers.

1571.  Digges, Pantom., IV. xvi. T ij b. Icosaedron is a solide Figure, vnder twentye equall equiangle triangles conteyned.

1594.  Blundevil, Exerc., I. v. (ed. 7), 17. Aske how many times 9 is contayned in 29.

1660.  Barrow, Euclid, I. axiom xiv. Two right lines do not contain a space. Ibid., I. prop. xlvi., note. A Rectangle contained under two right lines given. Ibid., XI. def. ix. Like solid figures are such as are contained under like Planes equal in number.

1823.  H. J. Brooke, Introd. Crystallogr., 123. The new figures would be contained within 24 isosceles triangular planes.

1875.  Todhunter, Algebra (ed. 7), lii. § 709. We have to find the highest power of 2 which is contained in [14…. thus the required power is 11.

  † 7.  To include, comprehend (in a writing, under a title, division, etc.). Obs.

1548.  Turner, Names of Herbes, 74. Many learned men contayne the red Mynt … under Sisymbrio.

1561.  T. Norton, Calvin’s Inst., I. 28. He conteineth both these pointes in his law.

1652.  Needham, trans. Selden’s Mare Cl., 83. The Isles and the Sea it self might bee conteined here, as particular parts of the Government or Province.

1666.  Earl Orrery, State Lett. (1742), 200. The proclamation may also contain, that if any one fails therein, [etc.].

  II.  To hold together; to keep under control, restrain, restrict, confine.

  † 8.  To hold together; to sustain. Obs.

c. 1374.  Chaucer, Boeth., III. xii. 102. Yif þere ne were oon þat contened[e] þat he haþ conioigned and ybounde.

1579.  Fenton, Guicciard., 1123. The army was at a maze where to seeke vittells to conteine the bodies which the stroke of diseases had yet left on live.

  † 9.  To hold (in a certain estimation). Obs. rare.

1601.  B. Jonson, Poetaster, V. i. 37. The dull detractions Of leaden souls; who … Contain her worthiest prophets in contempt.

  † 10.  To keep or retain in a certain state or order, under control, in subjection, etc. Obs.

1538.  Starkey, England, I. i. 10. By lyke wysdome they must be conteynyd and kept therin. Ibid., I. iv. 110. Al such lawys … wych conteyne the pepul in gud ordur and rule.

1598.  Barckley, Felic. Man, I. (1603), 28. That the sight and horror thereof … might contayne them in modestie.

1649.  Selden, Laws Eng., I. xxxviii. (1739), 58. A fair opportunity of containing them for ever under their awe.

1705.  Stanhope, Paraphr., III. 409. The Ceremonial Law … was given to contain the Israelites in their Duty.

1776.  Gibbon, Decl. & F., xii. (1792), II. 85. It was almost impossible that he could at once contain in obedience every part of his wide-extended dominions.

1831.  Sir W. Hamilton, Discuss. (1852), 396. To contain his pupils within statutory regulations.

  † 11.  To restrain, hold in, keep in check; to hold back, keep back, hinder (from an action, etc.) Obs.

1523.  St. Papers Hen. VIII., VI. 119. The same shal do grete good for conteyning of the Swicer.

1596.  Spenser, State Irel., Wks. (Globe), 614/1. To contayne the unruly people from a thousand evill occasions.

1625.  Bacon, Ess., Anger (Arb.), 567. To containe Anger from Mischiefe.

1651.  Hobbes, Leviath., II. xviii. Covenants being but words and breath, have no force to oblige, contain, constrain, or protect any man.

1791.  Burke, App. Whigs, Wks. VI. 94. The principles and opinions, which have hitherto guided and contained the world.

  b.  To restrain, put restraint on, repress (one’s feelings, passions, etc.).

c. 1611.  Chapman, Iliad, III. 198. One that was my brother-in-law, when I contain’d my blood, And was more worthy.

1697.  Dryden, Virg. Georg., IV. 97. Scarce can their Limbs, their mighty Souls contain.

1712.  Steele, Spect., No. 438, ¶ 1. To contain the Spirit of Anger.

  † 12.  To restrict, limit, confine. (Also refl.) Obs.

1579.  Lyly, Euphues (Arb.), 148. Them that haue conteined themselues, within the bandes of reason.

1602.  Hist. Eng., in Harl. Misc. (Malh.), II. 415. My desire to contain the work within some reasonable proportion.

1705.  Stanhope, Paraphr., II. 215. To contain themselves within the limits mark’d out for their Christian Course.

1816.  Mackintosh, Bacon & Locke, Wks. I. 336. To excite a fearless spirit of inquiry, and yet to contain it within the boundaries which Nature has prescribed.

  † 13.  To retain, keep, keep in, confine (within limits of space); also refl. to confine oneself, remain, ‘keep.’ Obs.

c. 1565.  Lindesay (Pitscottie), Chron. Scot. (1728), 9. To pass homeward to Edinburgh, there to contain himself till he was further advised.

1570–6.  Lambarde, Peramb. Kent (1826), 137. William consulted with Lanfranc how he might conteine that treasure within the Realme.

1596.  Shaks., Merch. V., IV. i. 50. And others, when the bag-pipe sings i’th nose, Cannot containe their Vrine.

1640.  F. Hawkins, Youth’s Behav., i. § 14 (1663), 3. Wriggle not thyself, as seeming unable to contain thyself within thy skin.

a. 1674.  Clarendon, Hist. Reb., XII. (1843), 740/2. [He] ordered his other small troops to contain themselves in those uncouth quarters.

1703.  Moxon, Mech. Exerc., 243. As the Moderns restrain Water, and contain it.

  † b.  intr. To keep oneself, remain. Obs.

c. 1400.  Rom. Rose, 4926. That he may, er he hennes pace, Conteyne undir obedience.

1682.  Tate, Absal. & Achit., II. 42. Accusers’ infamy is urged in vain, While in the bounds of sense they did contain.

  † c.  To retain, keep in one’s possession or control. Obs.

1596.  Shaks., Merch. V., V. i. 50. If you had knowne the vertue of the Ring … Or your owne honour to containe the Ring, You would not then haue parted with the Ring.

1651.  N. Bacon, Hist. Disc., xlv. 118. It’s true the English stuck close to him; but how they were gained or contained, Writers speak not.

  † d.  To keep, maintain (in a certain state). Obs.

1677.  Hale, Prim. Orig. Man., IV. ii. 297. The Water by heat and rarefaction easily assuming the nature of Air, and … containing it self in that consistency.

  14.  To refrain from expressing or yielding to feeling, passion, etc.; to restrain oneself; † to refrain or keep from (obs.); † spec. to be continent, keep oneself in chastity (obs.). (Cf. 11 b.)

  a.  refl.

c. 1290.  S. Eng. Leg., I. 108/61. Heo ne couþe no-þing conteini hire ne speken no-þe-mo.

1382.  Wyclif, 1 Cor. vii. 9. For if thei conteynen not hem silf, or ben not chast, weddid be thei.

c. 1450.  Castle Hd. Life St. Cuthb. (Surtees), 2669. And when fra gretyng sho hir contende.

1590.  Sir J. Smyth, Disc. Weapons, Sig.** ij b. Such … can very hardly after be reformed and reduced to containe themselues, and live under any discipline.

1596.  Shaks., Tam. Shr., Induct. i. 100. Feare not my Lord, we can contain our selues, Were he the veriest anticke in the world.

1778.  Bp. Lowth, Transl. Isa. xlii. 14. Shall I keep silence for ever? Shall I still contain myself?

1887.  Pall Mall G., 15 Sept., 7/2. Let them contain themselves and quit themselves like men.

  b.  intr. (for refl.)

1611.  Bible, 1 Cor. vii. 9. But if they cannot conteine, let them marry.

1621.  Burton, Anat. Mel., I. ii. III. viii. (1651), 103. He could contain no longer, but hasting home, invaded his territories.

1710.  Swift, Lett., 21 Sept. (Seager). No wonder she married, when she was so ill at containing.

1719.  Young, Paraphr. Job, Wks. 1757, I. 205. Then Job contain’d no more; but curs’d his fate.

1726.  W. R. Chetwood, Adv. Capt. R. Boyle, 213. All our care was to contain from laughing, which was a very hard Task.

1760.  Goldsm., Cit. W., iii. I could hardly contain when I saw the Daures dress their heads with horns.

1883.  G. Lloyd, Ebb & Flow, II. 205. He … seemed hardly able to contain.

  † 15.  To bear oneself (well), behave. Obs.

  a.  refl.

1297.  R. Glouc. (1724), 547. Sir Simound de Mountford conseilede hom vaste, Hou hii ssolde hom conteini, the wule the bataile ilaste.

1375.  Barbour, Bruce, XII. 277. Gif ȝe conteyn ȝou manfully.

c. 1450.  Merlin, iv. 77. That he sholde contene hym-self myrily.

1481.  Caxton, Godfrey, xvii. 45. The good bisshop of Puy … conteyned hym moche wysely and truly.

c. 1500.  Lancelot, 1130. Neuer … was sen No man in feild more knyghtly hyme conten.

  b.  intr. (for refl.)

c. 1350.  Will. Palerne, 3301. How that komeli kniȝt kunteyned on his stede.

  † 16.  intr. (for refl.) To be situated, remain (in place). Obs. (cf. 17 b.)

1528.  Lyndesay, Dream, 666. Asia contenis in the Orient.

1563.  Hyll, Art Garden. (1593), 144. It doth cleanse the places also where the stones containe.

  ¶ 17.  = CONTINUE. [Mostly Sc. or northern, in the forms contene, -tine, -tyne, but also conteyne: there was app. a confusion of conteine and continue: cf. CONTINUE v. 17 in sense of contain.] Obs.

  a.  trans.

c. 1330.  R. Brunne, Chron. (1810), 318. Þat no contek suld rise, Bot contene forth þe trew vnto þe Paskes terme.

1375.  Barbour, Bruce, viii. 68. Thair fayis … continit the ficht so hardely.

c. 1400.  Apol. Loll., 101. Contrarili be gunne, led, or contenid.

c. 1425.  Wyntoun, Cron., VIII. xxxv. 209. Justyng þus has bene Contenyt thre Dayis.

  b.  intr. (Cf. 13 b, 16).

c. 1380.  Wyclif, Wks. (1880), 33. Þei … contynen [v.r. conteynen] in pride, coueitise, extorciouns.

c. 1470.  Henry, Wallace, VII. 138. In strowbill wer thou sall conteyne full lang.

1592.  trans. Junius on Rev. xvii. 8. No Empire … ever conteyned so long.