Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Contain
Con-tain′
,Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Contained
; p. pr. & vb. n.
Containing
.] [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. Shakespeare
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 pecks3.
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. Shakespeare
Con-tain′
,Verb.
I.
To restrain desire; to live in continence or chastity.
But if they can not
contain
, let them marry. 1 Cor. vii. 9.
Webster 1828 Edition
Contain
CONTAIN
,Verb.
T.
1.
To hold, as a vessel; as, the vessel contains a gallon. Hence, to have capacity; to be able to hold; applied to an empty vessel.2.
To comprehend; to hold within specified limits.Behold, the heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain thee. 1 Kings 8.
3.
To comprehend; to comprise. The history of Livy contains a hundred and forty books.4.
To hold within limits prescribed; to restrain; to withhold from trespass or disorder.The Kings person contains the unruly people from evil occasions.
Fear not, my Lord, we can contain ourselves.
5.
To include. This article is not contained in the account. This number does not contain the article specified.6.
To inclose; as, this cover or envelop contains a letter.CONTAIN
,Verb.
I.