[a. F. content = Pr. content, It., Sp. contento:—L. content-us contained, limited, restrained, whence self-restrained, satisfied, pa. pple. of continēre to CONTAIN.]
I. 1. Having one’s desires bounded by what one has (though that may be less than one could have wished); not disturbed by the desire of anything more, or of anything different; ‘satisfied so as not to repine; easy though not highly pleased’ (J.). Const. with († of), that with clause, to with inf.
c. 1400. Rom. Rose, 5631. Contente with his poverte.
1413. Lydg., Pilgr. Sowle, V. xiv. (1859), 80. Ful dere have I bought yow, and yet I hold me content with my iourneye.
1490. Caxton, Eneydos, xxvii. (1890), 105. I haue ben ynoughe auenged by me, and holde me content therof.
1549. Latimer, 3rd Serm. bef. Edw. VI. (Arb.), 89. I am contente to beare the title of sedicion wyth Esai.
1590. Shaks., Mids. N., II. ii. 110. Yet Hermia still loues you; then be content.
1611. Bible, Phil. iv. 11. I haue learned in whatsoeuer state I am, therewith to bee content.
1647. Chas. I., in Antiquary, I. 97. I will be content, that ye come … and goe back at night.
1667. Milton, P. L., XI. 180. Here let us live, though in fall’n state, content.
1701. De Foe, True-born Eng., 2. That’s the specifick makes them all content.
1775. R. H. Lee, in Sparks, Corr. Amer. War (1853), I. 65. We must be content, however, to take human nature as we find it.
1834. Wordsw., Even. Voluntaries, v. The wisest, happiest of our kind are they That ever walk content with Nature’s way.
1864. Tennyson, Enoch Arden, 425. ‘I am content’ he answer’d, ‘to be loved A little after Enoch.’
† b. In imper. Be content: be satisfied in mind; be calm, quiet, not uneasy. Obs.
1593. Shaks., Rich. II., V. ii. 82. Peace foolish Woman … Good Mother, be content. Ibid. (1601), Jul. C., IV. ii. 42. Cassius be content: Speake your greefes softly. Ibid. (1611), Cymb., V. iv. 102. Be content: Your low-laide Sonne our Godhead will vplift.
c. Satisfied (in the sphere of action); confining one’s action (assertion, etc.) to the thing spoken of. Usually with negative. (Cf. CONTENT v. 3.)
1533. Latimer, in Foxe, A. & M. (1563), 1309. When men will not be content that she [our Lady] was a creature saued, but as it were a sauioresse.
1577. B. Googe, Heresbach’s Husb., III. (1586), 151 b. The Swine is not content with drinking, but hee must often coole … his filthy panch in the water.
1611. Bible, 3 John 10. Not content therewith, neither doth he himselfe receiue the brethren, and forbiddeth them that would.
1654. Fuller, Two Serm., 33. Not content to carry downe the Remainder of the Captivitie into Ægypt, but also they took Ieremiah the Prophet … along with them.
1856. Sir B. Brodie, Psychol. Inq., I. i. 32. In all human affairs we must be content to do that which is best on the whole.
1886. Morley, Voltaire, 9. Content to live his life, leaving many questions open.
d. Satisfied, contented, not unwilling to do (something unworthy).
1576. Gascoigne, Steele Gl., Wks. 302. That worthie emperour … Could be content to tire his wearie wife.
1642. Howell, For. Trav., viii. (Arb.), 42. Some … would be content to light a candle to the Devill.
1855. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., III. 62. Charles and James were content to be the vassals and pensioners of a powerful and ambitious neighbour.
1884. Church, Bacon, 20. Servile and insincere flatterers … content to submit with smiling face … to the insolence of [the Queen’s] waywardness and temper.
2. Pleased, gratified (= F. content); now only in phr. well content. arch.
c. 1440. Generydes, 368. ‘Madame,’ quod he, ‘my will is and shall To do your sone pleasure and seruice, As ye shalbe right wele content withall.
c. 1489. Caxton, Sonnes of Aymon, xxvi. 545. Ye have trowbled all my courte wherof I am not contente.
c. 1500. Lancelot, 2945. He spak no word, bot he was not content.
1513. More, Rich. III. (1883), 46. But the lord Hastinges was in his minde better content, that it was moued by her.
1535. Coverdale, Josh. xxii. 33. Then were the children of Israel well contente with the thing.
1786. Burns, Holy Fair, xx. The lads and lasses … Sit round the table, weel content, An’ steer about the toddy.
1887. Stevenson, Underwoods, I. xxv. 55. So sits the while at home the mother well content.
b. So † Evil content (obs.), ill content (arch.): displeased, dissatisfied, discontented.
c. 1477. Caxton, Jason, 58. Wherof the ladyes damoiselles … were right euyll content. Ibid. (c. 1489), Sonnes of Aymon, ix. 253. Ye knowe it not; wherof I am evyll contente.
1580. Baret, Alv., C 1156. Displeasantlie, with ill will, being ill content, repugnanter.
1864. Tennyson, En. Ard., 558. So the three … Dwelt with eternal summer, ill-content.
† 3. Consenting, willing, ready. Const. to with inf. that with clause, or absol. Be content: ‘be pleased,’ ‘be so good.’ Obs.
c. 1477. Caxton, Jason, 63. Ther is no seruice ne plaisir but that I am content to do for you. Ibid. (1485), Chas. Gt., 250. The comune vnderstondyng is more contente to reteyne parables and examples for the ymagynacion locall.
a. 1533. Ld. Berners, Huon, lxiv. 220. I am content ye sende for hym.
1549. Latimer, 3rd Serm. bef. Edw. VI. (Arb.), 92. They [magistrates] that be not of the best, muste be contente to be taught.
1575. Gascoigne, Princely Pleas., Wks. Then tell me what was ment … Good Eccho be content.
1611. Bible, 2 Kings vi. 3. And one said, Be content I pray thee and goe with thy seruants.
a. 1656. Bp. Hall, Hard Measure, Rem. Wks. (1660), 64. A Neighbour … was content to void his House for us.
1709. Swift, T. Tub, Author’s Apol. Since the book seems calculated to live … I am content to convey some apology along with it.
† b. ellipt. as an exclamation: = I am content; agreed! all right! Obs. exc. as in c.
1591. Shaks., 1 Hen. VI., III. i. 146. Content, Ile to the Surgeons. Ibid. (1596), Tam. Shr., V. ii. 70. Content, what’s the wager?
1820. Shelley, Œdipus, II. i. 190. Purg. At the approaching feast Of Famine, let the expiation be. Swine. Content! content!
c. In the House of Lords, Content and Not content are the formal expressions of assent and dissent (corresponding to AYE and NO in the House of Commons).
1621. Elsing, Debates Ho. Lords (Camden), 17. Such … as are of opynion that the charge shall be sent to the L. Chancellor, say—Content. Such as wyll have his Lordship come hether to heare the charg, saye—Not content.
1707. Miége, St. Gt. Brit. (1718), 270. The manner of voting in the House of Lords is this, They begin at the lowest baron, and so go on seriatim, every one answering apart Content or Not Content [printed consent].
1817. Parl. Deb., 273. The House then divided on the motion for the second reading … Content 84, Not Content 23.
1823. Byron, Juan, XIV. lviii. I hate … A laureate’s ode, or servile peer’s ‘content.’
II. For contented pa. pple.: see CONTENT v. 4, 5.
1475. Bk. Noblesse, 72. And that suche paymentis be made content bethout delaie.
1491. Act 7 Hen. VII., c. 20 § 6. Unto the time that the same Duches … of the seid yerely rent … be fully satisfied, content and payed.
1502. Arnold, Chron. (1811), 108. For the some of xl. s. … to me ye day of makyng herof content and paid.
1523. Ld. Berners, Froiss., I. clxxiv. 211. Vnto the tyme that the sayd payment of money be full content and payed.
B. as sb. in pl. Those who vote ‘Content’: see 3 c. So non-contents: those who vote ‘Not content.’ (Cf. Ayes and Noes.)
17[?]. Burke, Sp. Act Uniformity (T.). Supposing the number of contents and not contents strictly equal in numbers and consequence.
1810. G. Rose, Diaries (1860), II. 465. Contents 105, Non-contents 102.
1882. Harper’s Mag., LXV. 184. And when the division was called, went into the lobby with the ‘contents.’
