ppl. a. [f. CONTENT v. + -ED1.]
1. Satisfied, desiring nothing more or nothing different; limiting one’s desires, willing to put up with something; = CONTENT a. 1.
1526. Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 3. The sayd Moyses not contented with these visyons made supplicacyon to God.
c. 1600. Shaks., Sonn., xxix. With what I most enjoy contented least.
a. 1661. Fuller, Worthies, Bucks (1840), I. 200. T. Bickley was rather contented than willing to accept the bishopric of Chichester.
1749. Fielding, Tom Jones, XII. x. I should have been contented with a very little.
1883. Froude, in Contemp. Rev., XLIV. 1. The greatest men … are those of whom the world has been contented to know the least.
† b. Evil contented: dissatisfied, displeased.
1548. Hall, Chron., 95 b. He was right evil contented … of the said forcyng of the toure.
† 2. Willing, ready (to do something); = CONTENT a. 3. Obs.
a. 1525. Abp. Warham, in M. Burrows, Worthies All Souls, iv. (1874), 54. I shall be contented to bere the costs and charges thereof myselve.
1549. Bk. Com. Prayer, Collect Gd. Friday. This thy family, for the which our Lord Jesus Christ was contented to be betrayed.
1653. H. Cogan, trans. Pinto’s Trav., lviii. 231. He prayed him to give him leave to ask him something … Whereunto the Grepo made answer, that he was very well contented.
3. Satisfied with one’s present condition; not disposed to complain; marked by contentment.
1594. Shaks., Rich. III., I. iii. 84. By him that rais’d me to this carefull height, From that contented hap which I inioy’d.
1627. Hakewill, Apol., III. vi. § 2. Their liberty [is converted] into contented slavery.
1651. Hobbes, Leviath., II. xvii. 85. The foresight of … a more contented life thereby.
1725. Berkeley, Proposal, Wks. III. 223. A contented, plain, innocent sort of people.
