Continent
/ˈkɒn.tɪ.nənt/noun
A large continuous expanse of land not divided by sea.
Did you know?Continent comes from Latin *continentem*, “holding together,” from the same root as *contain*, *continuous*, and *continent* in the sense of self-restraint.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*ten-
“to stretch, hold, or extend”
Latin
Latin
continēre
“to hold together, keep within bounds”
Latin
Latin
continēns (terra)
“the adjoining or continuous land”
Late Latin
Latin
continentem
“the continuous landmass”
14th Century
English
continent
“the main continuous body of land; later, one of Earth’s large landmasses”