| 释义 |
▪ I. content, n.1|kənˈtɛnt, ˈkɒntɛnt|
Also 7 containt.
[There is no corresponding use of content, contente, contento, contenta in the modern Romanic langs., which all express the sense by ns. derived from their actual pa. pple., as F. contenu, It. contenuto, Sp. contenido. Apparently, therefore, the Eng. word is a subst. use of content ppl. a. repr. L. contentum that which is contained, plural contenta. The singular was formerly in use in senses in which the plural is now alone used; in senses 2, 3, contents was in the 17th c. often construed as sing.
‘The stress conˈtent is historical, and still common among the educated, but ˈcontent is now used by many, esp. by young people; some make a difference, saying conˈtents, but cubic ˈcontent; and printers often use ˈcontents technically, while saying conˈtents generally. See Academy, 14 Nov. 1891’ (N.E.D., 1893).]
I. That which is contained in anything.
1. a. A thing contained; now only in pl. (with of or possessive): That which is contained (in a vessel or the like); also fig.
1526Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W. 1531) 6 b, All this worlde with the contentes in the same. 1547Boorde Brev. Health lxxiii. 23 Yf in an urine doo appere a content lyke as heares were chopped in it. 1625Hart Anat. Ur. ii. viii. 96 All vrines are not accompanied with contents. 1783Cowper Task iv. 506 Ten thousand casks For ever dribbling out their base contents. 1832G. R. Porter Porcelain & Gl. 91 The contents of the kiln are left undisturbed until they are cool. 1884M. E. Braddon Ishmael xii, The old toper swallowed the contents of both glasses without winking.
b. Contrasted with continent.
1603Holland Plutarch's Mor. 1019 The content is alwaies lesse than the continent. 1605Bacon Adv. Learn. i. i. §3 If there be no fulnesse, then is the Continent greater than the Content. 1868G. Macdonald Seaboard Parish I. iv. 66 Stealing from the significance of the content by the meretricious grandeur of the continent.
c. sing. The amount (of a specified substance or material) contained; the amount or quantity yielded. Usu. with defining word prefixed.
1901Chemist & Druggist LVIII. 18 Jeancard and Satie..conclude that altitude has no influence upon the ester content of lavender oil. 1901Yearbk. U.S. Dept. Agric. (1902) 41 The director of the Arizona Experiment Station reported that the sugar content in pounds per acre..ranged from 1,491 to 3,361 pounds. 1955J. H. Comroe et al. Lung vi. 106 Normal or low CO2 content and pressure does not mean that the patient is not seriously ill.
d. Psychol. [tr. G. inhalt.] The totality of the constituents of a person's experience at any particular moment (see quots.).
1890W. James Princ. Psychol. II. xvii. 28 The relations are part of the ‘content’ of consciousness. 1896G. F. Stout Analytic Psychol. I. i. i. 41 It is an appearance in consciousness. It is what Brentano would call a content (Inhalt) of presentation. 1901Baldwin Dict. Philos. & Psychol., Content,..(2) A constituent of any kind of presented whole. (3) An object meant or intended by the subject... See Intent for this meaning. Ibid., We may distinguish conveniently the presented content (argued about) and the process (the arguing). 1902Amer. Jrnl. Psychol. Apr. 279 Funded or consolidated contents, are..such contents as are produced by bringing together, in a very intimate way, various part-contents. 1913E. Jones Papers Psycho-Analysis 26 Freud..contrasts the ‘manifest content’, which is the dream as directly related, with the ‘latent content’, which is the group of thoughts reached by psycho-analysis of the dream. 1916C. E. Long tr. Jung's Coll. Papers Anal. Psych. 14 A definite presentation-content [Vorstellungsinhalt] can even create a stereotyped repetition in the individual crisis. Ibid. 76 The hallucinatory content and loud speaking is also met with in persons with hallucinations in lethargy. 1927J. Adams Errors in School ii. 35 The thinker in whose mental-content they found a place. 1963J. P. Guilford in Taylor & Barron Scientific Creativity ii. 102 Previously..three kinds of content were distinguished: figural, structural, and conceptual.
2. a. spec. (pl.) The things contained or treated of in a writing or document; the various subdivisions of its subject-matter. Formerly also in sing.
1509Paternoster, Ave & Creed (W. de W.) C vj, Praye for your broder Thomas Betson which..drewe and made the contentes of this lytell quayer and exhortacion. 1530Palsgr. 208/2 Contentes of writyng, contenue. 1539Bible (Great) title-p., The Byble in Englyshe, that is to saye the content of all the holy Scrypture, bothe of y⊇ olde and newe testament. 1600Shakes. A.Y.L. iv. iii. 21 This is a Letter of your owne deuice. No, I protest, I know not the contents, Phebe did write it. 1655Mirr. Mercy & Judgm. in Harl. Misc. (Malh.) X. 33 He did read the scripture, and the ‘Practice of Piety’, every day, especially that content of the joys off heven. 1782Cowper Lett. 4 Nov., A letter ought not to be estimated by the length of it, but by the contents. 1870L'Estrange Miss Mitford I. i. 8 An acquaintance with the other contents of ‘Percy's Reliques’.
b. table of contents († content): a summary of the matters contained in a book, in the order in which they occur, usually placed at the beginning of the book. Also simply contents († content).
1481Caxton Godfrey, Here endeth the table of the content and chapytres nombred of this present book. 1536Bellenden Cron. Scot. (1541) A j, The contents of this buke. 1581Act 23 Eliz. c. 3 §7 The said chirographer shall delyver to everye sherife of everye countye..a perfyte content of the Table so to bee made for that Shire. 1619L. Bayly Pract. Pietie Table, The chiefe contents of this Booke. 1824J. Johnson Typogr. II. vi. 137 After the body of the volume is completed, the contents sometimes follow next.
†3.
a. The sum or substance of what is contained in a document; tenor, purport. In this sense, used both in sing. and pl., and also in pl. const. as sing. Obs.
1513–4Act 5 Hen. VIII, c. 1 To require..the person soo bound to perfourme the contentes of every such Writting obligatorie. 1530Palsgr. 208/2 Content of a mater, teneur. 1583T. Stocker Civ. Warres Lowe Countr. i. 93 b, A Letter..the content wherof was this, etc. 1586Jas. VI in Ellis Orig. Lett. i. 222 III. 14 Reade my lettir..and conforme your selfe quhollie to the contentis thairof. 1616Brent tr. Sarpi's Counc. Trent (1676) 80 Briefly repeating a short contents thereof, he said, etc. 1632J. Hayward tr. Biondi's Eromena 26 The Count shewed him the answer of Mutriro, the contents whereof was, etc. 1654Earl of Orrery Parthenissa (1676) 581 This ensuing Letter, whose Address was as strange to him, as the Contents was to us. 1667Milton P.L. vi. 622 Terms of weight, Of hard contents.
b. contents of a bill or cheque: the amount for which it is drawn, as specified therein.
1866Crump Banking v. 123 If it be intended further to negotiate it, or to receive the contents at maturity.
4. The sum of qualities, notions, ideal elements given in or composing a conception; the substance or matter (of cognition, or art, etc.) as opposed to the form.
1845M. Pattison Ess. (1889) I. 6 The mind..looks at actions to see what may be their ethic content; what instruction for practice they afford. 1862H. Spencer First Princ. ii. iii. §48 Forces, standing in certain correlations, form the whole content of our idea of Matter. 1875Whitney Life Lang. v. 76 The inner content or meaning of words. 1878Dowden Stud. Lit. (1882) 295 An indifference arises as to what is called the substance or ‘content’ of works of art. 1883Huxley in Nature XXVII. 397 The great mass of literature..is valued..because of its intellectual content.
II. Containing capacity, space, area, extent.
5. Containing power (of a vessel, etc. in reference to quantity); capacity.
1491Act 7 Hen. VII, c. 7 §1 If it lacke of the seid gauge..than the Seller to abate somoche of the price after the rate of the seid content. 1531–2Act 23 Hen. VIII, c. 4 §1 Barrels kylderkyns and firkyns of moche lasse quantitie, contente, rate, and assise than they ought to be. 1594Plat Jewell-ho., Diuers Chim. Concl. 28 A glasse..of some greater content. 1624Bacon New Atlantis (1627) 12 This Island had then fifteen hundred strong ships of great Content. 1672Grew Idea Philos. Hist. Plants §24 The Content of these altogether, would scarce be equal to half the Content of that One. 1709Hauksbee Phys. Mech. Exper. i. (1719) 17 A Glass Tube whose Content was about 30 ounces. 1884Chamb. Jrnl. 26 Jan. 59/1 Gaugers..glancing at a cask..to tell its ‘content’, as its holding capacity is officially styled.
6. Extent, size, quantity of space contained.
a. Superficial extent, area. Also formerly in pl. Frequent in 17th c.; now rare.
1570–6Lambarde Peramb. Kent (1826) 89, I will..shewe you out of Beda..the content and storie of this Ile. 1625Bacon Ess. Gardens (Arb.) 558 For Gardens..the Contents, ought not well to be vnder Thirty Acres of Ground. 1660Barrow Euclid i. prop. 35 schol., The area or content of the Rectangle. 1796Morse Amer. Geog. I. 53 To find the superficial content of the earth. 1859Barn. Smith Arith. & Algebra (ed. 6) 162 Content is also frequently used to denote length, area, and capacity or volume; the length of a line being called its linear content; the area of a figure, its superficial content.
b. Amount of cubical space taken up, volume. (Often solid content.) Now the usual sense.
1612R. Churton (title), An Old Thrift newly Revived, also the use of a small Instrument for Measuring the solid content and height of any Tree. 1774J. Bryant Mythol. I. 429 The general measurement..by acres proves that such an estimate could not relate to anything of solid contents. 1863Huxley Man's Place Nat. ii. 77 The most capacious Gorilla skull yet measured has a content of not more than 34½ cubic inches.
c. linear content: length (along a line straight or curved). rare.
1859[see a].
d. Size or extent as estimated by the number of individuals contained.
1889Spectator 12 Oct., The Turkish Army..is now equal in all but content to any army of its kind in Europe.
†e. quasi-concr. A portion of material or of space of a certain extent; an ‘extent’. Obs.
1577Harrison England ii. v. (1877) i. 122 The Kings grace hath at his pleasure the content of cloth for his gowne. 1654Fuller Ephemeris Pref. 1 Our Native Countrey..hath in all ages afforded as many signall observables as any content of ground of the same proportion. 1692R. L'Estrange Josephus' Antiq. v. viii. (1733) 119 The Camp must needs take up a huge Content of Ground.
7. Customs. A paper delivered to the custom-house searcher by the master of a vessel before he can clear outwards, specifying the vessel's destination, the stores shipped, and other particulars.
1867Smyth Sailor's Word-bk., Contents. 1872Stores Content and Master's Declaration, I..Master of the above-named Vessel, do declare that the particulars set forth above are true and correct, etc.
8. attrib., as content-analysis; content clause (see quots.); content word, a word (normally a noun, adjective, or verb) that conveys meaning in an utterance (in contrast with a grammatical element like a preposition, article, or auxiliary).
1953J. B. Carroll Study of Language iv. 120 There is the operational problem of analyzing the semantic content of messages; this step has come to be known as *content analysis. 1961Lancet 12 Aug. 360/2 Content-analysis allows the teacher to assess the effectiveness of his instruction. 1969Computers & Humanities III. 144 Content analysis has been used by non-historians to help resolve the disputed authorship of certain of the Federalist Papers.
1927Jespersen Mod. Eng. Gram. III. ii. 23 *Content clauses. I venture to coin this new term for clauses like the one in ‘(I believe) that he is ill’. 1957Zandvoort Handbk. Eng. Gram. v. ii. 222 Something might be said for the term ‘content clauses’... They express the ‘contents’ of the noun on which they depend... The term is borrowed from Jespersen..who..applies it to all object clauses, as well as to subject clauses and predicate clauses.
1940Bryant & Aiken Psychol. English xxvi. 159 These words are the small change of the language; they are the construction words—pronouns, common prepositions, and auxiliaries. They are distinguished sharply from ‘*content’ words in that their chief value is syntactical rather than semantic.
▸ content provider n. a person who or organization that furnishes the matter or substance relayed in an act of communication; spec. a company that writes or produces material for dissemination by another agency via any of various (freq. electronic) media.
1962S. B. Sarason et al. Preparation of Teachers i. 15 What is the relevance of the contents and procedures of teacher training for the functions which a teacher performs by virtue of being a *content provider for, stimulant to, and supporter and overseer of the intellectual development of children? 1983Amer. Banker (Nexis) 13 Apr. 3 They have good technology skills... They have good communications with content providers, and they have a good customer base. 2000Wall St. Jrnl. 23 Aug. a17/2 The commission opened its inquiry into the $160 billion AOL-Time Warner merger by saying its biggest concern was the vertical integration of a leading Internet company and a powerful content provider.
▪ II. content, n.2|kənˈtɛnt|
[Either from content v. or a., (or perh. ad. It. contento ‘contentment, content’ (in Florio 1598): cf. also Sp., Pg. contento contentment, liking.]
1. Satisfaction, pleasure; a contented condition. (Now esp. as a habitual frame of mind.)
1579Lyly Euphues (Arb.) 82 That the mariage should immediatly be consummated, which wrought such a content in Philautus. 1602Marston Ant. & Mel. Induct. Wks. 1856 I. 5 So impregnably fortrest with his own content that no envious thought could ever invade his spirit. 1668Pepys Diary 14 May, ‘The Country Captain’, a very dull play that did give us no content. 1697Dryden Virg. Georg. iv. 308 In Concord and Content The Commons live, by no Divisions rent. 1734Pope Ess. Man iv. 1 O Happiness! our Being's end and aim! Good, pleasure, ease, content, whate'er thy name! 1842Tennyson Walking to Mail 79 With meditative grunts of much content.
b. heart's content: now in phrase, to one's heart's content, to one's full inward satisfaction.
(Shakes. has word-plays on content n.1 5.)
1593Shakes. 2 Hen. VI, i. i. 35 Her grace in Speech, Makes me from Wondring, fall to Weeping ioyes, Such is the Fulnesse of my hearts content. 1596― Merch. V. iii. iv. 42, I wish your Ladiship all hearts content. 1632J. Hayward tr. Biondi's Eromena 110 Eromena..lived now at her owne hearts sweet content. 1697W. Dampier Voy. (1698) I. 192 Thus they were all disposed of to their hearts content. 1832H. Martineau Hill & Vall. i. 14 Mr. Wallace praised the garden..to the heart's content of its owner. 1890Froude Ld. Beaconsfield iv. 61 The Protestant Somersetshire yeomen no doubt cheered him to his heart's content.
†c. with pl. Obs.
1593Shakes. Rich. II, v. ii. 38 But heauen hath a hand in these euents To whose high will we bound our calme contents. 1612Woodall Surg. Mate Pref. Wks. (1653) 9 The authour hath..continued their servant (to their contents) for full twentie foure years alreadie. 1633Ford Broken Ht. i. i, To see thee match'd, As may become thy choice, and our contents.
†2. Acceptance of conditions or circumstances, acquiescence. to take upon content: to accept without question or examination. Obs.
1646Sir T. Browne Pseud. Ep. i. v. 18 By a content and acquiescence in every species of truth, we embrace the shadow thereof. 1692Contriv. Blackhead & Young ii. in Harl. Misc. (1745) VIII. 204 Robert, seeing the money come so freely, would have taken it upon content; the servant would not pay it, except he would tell it over. 1697Collier Ess. Mor. Subj. ii. (1709) 165 They often take their Improvement upon Content, without examining how they came by it. 1709Pope Ess. Crit. 308 The sense they humbly take upon content. 1752Johnson Rambler No. 204 ⁋1 To the sons of presumption, humility and fear; and to the daughters of sorrow, content and acquiescence.
†3. A source or material condition of satisfaction, a ‘satisfaction’; pl. pleasures, delights. Obs.
a1593Marlowe Dido i. i. 28 Sit on my knee, and call for thy content. 1625Gill Sacr. Philos. xii. 181 To deny himselfe many pleasures and contents in this present life. a1639W. Whately Prototypes i. xix. (1640) 235 It will be a content at death, to thinke one hath not wasted his life for nothing. a1716South Serm. (1744) X. 224 The contents and comforts of life, dearer than life itself, are torn from him.
†4. Satisfaction or compensation for anything done. Obs.
a1654Selden Table-T. (Arb.) 42 Tell me what this is, I will give you any content for your pains.
†5. (See quot. 1700). Obs. [prob. belongs here.]
a1700B. E. Dict. Cant. Crew, Content, a thick Liquor, made up in Rolls in imitation of Chocolate, sold in some Coffee-houses. c1710in J. Ashton Soc. Life Reign Q. Anne (1882) I. 291 Hot and cold liquor, as Sack, Whitewine, Claret, Coffee, Tea, Content, etc.
▪ III. † conˈtent, n.3 Obs.
[a. OF. content, cuntent contention, quarrel, on L. type *content-us, from content- ppl. stem of contendĕre to contend.]
A contention, dispute, quarrel.
a1450Knt. de la Tour (1863) 100 Whereof sourded a grete content and stryf bytwene these two wymmen. 1483Caxton G. de la Tour F vij b, Of the content that was betwene Fenenna and Anna [1 Sam. i.].
▪ IV. content, a. (n.4)|kənˈtɛnt|
[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.
c1400Rom. Rose 5631 Contente with his poverte. 1413Lydg. Pilgr. Sowle v. xiv. (1859) 80 Ful dere have I bought yow, and yet I hold me content with my iourneye. 1490Caxton Eneydos xxvii. (1890) 105, I haue ben ynoughe auenged by me, and holde me content therof. 1549Latimer 3rd Serm. bef. Edw. VI (Arb.) 89, I am contente to beare the title of sedicion wyth Esai. 1590Shakes. Mids. N. ii. ii. 110 Yet Hermia still loues you; then be content. 1611Bible Phil. iv. 11, I haue learned in whatsoeuer state I am, therewith to bee content. 1647Chas. I in Antiquary I. 97, I will be content, that y⊇ come..and goe back at night. 1667Milton P.L. xi. 180 Here let us live, though in fall'n state, content. 1701De Foe True-born Eng. 2 That's the specifick makes them all content. 1775R. H. Lee in Sparks Corr. Amer. War (1853) I. 65 We must be content, however, to take human nature as we find it. 1834Wordsw. Even. Voluntaries v, The wisest, happiest of our kind are they That ever walk content with Nature's way. 1864Tennyson En. Ard. 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.
1593Shakes. Rich. II, v. ii. 82 Peace foolish Woman..Good Mother, be content. 1601― Jul. C. iv. ii. 42 Cassius be content: Speake your greefes softly. 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.)
1533Latimer 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. 1577B. 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. 1611Bible 3 John 10 Not content therewith, neither doth he himselfe receiue the brethren, and forbiddeth them that would. 1654Fuller 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. 1856Sir B. Brodie Psychol. Inq. I. i. 32 In all human affairs we must be content to do that which is best on the whole. 1886Morley Voltaire 9 Content to live his life, leaving many questions open.
d. Satisfied, contented, not unwilling to do (something unworthy).
1576Gascoigne Steele Gl. Wks. 302 That worthie emperour..Could be content to tire his wearie wife. 1642Howell For. Trav. viii. (Arb.) 42 Some..would be content to light a candle to the Devill. 1855Macaulay Hist. Eng. III. 62 Charles and James were content to be the vassals and pensioners of a powerful and ambitious neighbour. 1884Church 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.
c1440Generydes 368 ‘Madame’, quod he, ‘my will is and shall To do your sone pleasure and seruice, As ye shalbe right wele content withall. c1489Caxton Sonnes of Aymon xxvi. 545 Ye have trowbled all my courte wherof I am not contente. c1500Lancelot 2945 He spak no word, bot he was not content. 1513More Rich. III (1883) 46 But the lord Hastinges was in his minde better content, that it was moued by her. 1535Coverdale Josh. xxii. 33 Then were the children of Israel well contente with the thing. 1786Burns Holy Fair xx, The lads and lasses..Sit round the table, weel content, An' steer about the toddy. 1887Stevenson 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.
c1477Caxton Jason 58 Wherof the ladyes damoiselles..were right euyll content. c1489― Sonnes of Aymon ix. 253 Ye knowe it not; wherof I am evyll contente. 1580Baret Alv. C 1156 Displeasantlie, with ill will, being ill content, repugnanter. 1864Tennyson 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.
c1477Caxton Jason 63 Ther is no seruice ne plaisir but that I am content to do for you. 1485― Chas. Gt. 250 The comune vnderstondyng is more contente to reteyne parables and examples for the ymagynacion locall. a1533Ld. Berners Huon lxiv. 220, I am content ye sende for hym. 1549Latimer 3rd Serm. bef. Edw. VI (Arb.) 92 They [magistrates] that be not of the best, muste be contente to be taught. 1575Gascoigne Princely Pleas. Wks., Then tell me what was ment..Good Eccho be content. 1611Bible 2 Kings vi. 3 And one said, Be content I pray thee and goe with thy seruants. a1656Bp. Hall Hard Measure Rem. Wks. (1660) 64 A Neighbour..was content to void his House for us. 1709Swift 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.
1591Shakes. 1 Hen. VI, iii. i. 146 Content, Ile to the Surgeons. 1596― Tam. Shr. v. ii. 70 Content, what's the wager? 1820Shelley 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).
1621H. 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. 1707Miege 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]. 1817Parl. Deb. 273 The House then divided on the motion for the second reading..Content 84, Not Content 23. 1823Byron Juan xiv. lviii, I hate..A laureate's ode, or servile peer's ‘content’.
II. For contented pa. pple.: see content v. 4, 5.
1475Bk. Noblesse 72 And that suche paymentis be made content bethout delaie. 1491Act 7 Hen. VII, c. 20 §6 Unto the time that the same Duches..of the seid yerely rent..be fully satisfied, content and payed. 1502Arnold Chron. (1811) 108 For the some of xl.s..to me y⊇ day of makyng herof content and paid. 1523Ld. Berners Froiss. I. clxxiv. 211 Vnto the tyme that the sayd payment of money be full content and payed.
B. as n. 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. 1810G. Rose Diaries (1860) II. 465 Contents 105, Non-contents 102. 1882Harper's Mag. LXV. 184 And when the division was called, went into the lobby with the ‘contents’.
▪ V. content, v.|kənˈtɛnt|
[a. F. contente-r = Pr., Sp., Pg. contentar, It. and med.L. contentare, a Com. Romanic deriv. of contento, content adj.: see content a.]
For passive use see also contented.
1. trans. ‘To satisfy so as to stop complaint’ (J.); to be enough for; to give contentment or satisfaction to.
1477Earl Rivers (Caxton) Dictes 42 That littil that I haue contenteth me. 1526Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W. 1531) 230 All the powers and desyres of mannes soule shall be fully contented and quyeted. 1526Tindale Mark xv. 15 Pylate willinge to content the people, loused Barrabas. 1570–6Lambarde Peramb. Kent (1826) 191 That large portion of our Islande (which in Cæsars time contented foure severall Kings). 1600Shakes. A.Y.L. v. ii. 126, I will content you, if what pleases you contents you. 1605Bacon Adv. Learn. ii. Ded. §9 Except their condition and endowment be such as may content the ablest man to appropriate his whole labour and continue his whole age in that function. 1611Bible Transl. Pref. 4 It did not fully content the learned. 1653H. Cogan tr. Pinto's Trav. lx. 246 Seeing that by this new league God had contented his desire. 1830D'Israeli Chas. I, III. x. 223 The Queen said..she never could learn what would content the Puritans. 1873Black Pr. Thule viii. 127 There was something in the tone of her voice that contented him.
absol.1597Bacon Ess., Disc. (Arb.) 16 He that questioneth much shall learne much, and content much. 1841–4Emerson Ess. Manners Wks. (Bohn) I. 213 The favourites of society..contented and contenting.
†b. To please, gratify; to delight. Obs.
1552Huloet, Content, lyke, or please, arrideo. 1591Shakes. Two Gent. iii. i. 93 A woman somtime scorns what best contents her. 1596― Tam. Shr. iv. iii. 180 Or is the Adder better than the Eele, Because his painted skin contents the eye? 1653H. Cogan tr. Pinto's Trav. xxiv. 90 Whereby..he should more content him then if he should give him the treasures of China. 1681W. Robertson Phraseol. Gen. (1693) 380 To content or give content, placere.
2. refl. (also to content one's mind, etc.) To be satisfied or contented. Const. with († inf.).
1502Ord. Crysten Men (W. de W. 1506) ii. xviii. 138 In clymynge from stayre to stayre wtout euer hym to contempt tyll unto yt [he] may come unto the vysyon of god. 1530Palsgr. 496/2, I content me with lesse of meate or drinke..than the moste parte do. 1538Starkey England i. ii. 40 So long as he..contentyth hys mynd wyth hys present state. 1581Mulcaster Positions xiv. (1887) 67 We must content our selues with that which we haue. 1663Gerbier Counsel 8 b, Those who content themselves with guilt outsides of books. 1713Addison Cato iv. iv, Content thyself to be obscurely good. 1779–81Johnson L.P., Rowe, Occasional poetry must often content itself with occasional praise.
†b. To please oneself, take pleasure.
c1600Chester Plays (Shaks. Soc.) i. 1 Who moste worthilye Contented hymselfe to sett out in playe, The devise of one Done Rondall.
†c. intr. (for refl.) To be content; to acquiesce.
c1530Debate Summer & Winter 103 in Hazl. E.P.P. III. 40 The more he hath wherwith, the lesse he contenteth. 1592Shakes. Ven. & Ad. 61 Forced to content, but never to obey, Panting he lies.
3. refl. To rest satisfied (in the sphere of action) with; to confine oneself, limit one's action.
1538Starkey England ii. i. 158 Euery man that contentyth not hymselfe wyth hys owne mystere, craft, and faculty. 1586Thynne in Holinshed Chron. II. 464/2 Therefore contenting myself with this..I commit my self..to thy favorable judgement. 1653H. More Antid. Ath. ii. xi. §1 73, I shall content my self in taking notice onely of the outward frame of some few kinds. a1694Tillotson (J.), Great minds do sometimes content themselves to threaten, when they could destroy. 1757Johnson Rambler No. 178 ⁋2 Most men, when they should labour, content themselves to complain. 1816Kirby & Sp. Entomol. (1843) II. 1, I see..that you will not content yourself with being a mere collector of Insects. 1870Max Müller Sc. Relig. (1873) 398 [He] contents himself with reporting the results of other scholars.
†4. trans. To satisfy (a person) by full payment; to compensate, remunerate. Obs.
1418Hen. V in Ellis Orig. Lett. iii. 27 I. 64 We wol that ye see that thier be taaken dewe accomptes of the said John..and..that he be contented and agreed in the best wyse. c1477Caxton Jason 47 b, I haue good will..to rewarde and contente yow of the good and agreable seruices. 1530Palsgr. 496/2, I content, I paye or satysfye..I owe hym nothynge but I shall content hym. 1604Shakes. Oth. iii. i. 1 Masters, play heere, I wil content your paines. 1625Ussher in Lett. Lit. Men (Camden) 134 To content the workeman for his paynes. 1822Scott Nigel iv, You shall..sign an acknowledgment for these monies, and an obligation to content and repay me.
†b. in making satisfaction for sin; cf. contentation 5 b.
1548Gest Pr. Masse 91 Testablishe the masse sacrifice to content God.
†5. To satisfy, pay in full, make good (a claim).
1433E.E. Wills (1882) 94 And thet the seyd dettes be contented & payed. 1508Barclay Shyp of Folys (1874) I. 134 To lene frely to one that is in nede And wyll be glad it to content agayne. 1531–2Act 23 Henry VIII, c. 6 §12 Whereof the sommes now be not paide or otherwise contented, laufully auoyded or discharged by the lawe. 1640–1Kirkcudbr. War-Comm. Min. Bk. (1855) 165 To content and pey to the said Johne Penrie the soumes of money above specifeit. 1814Scott Wav. lxxi, A certain sum of sterling money to be presently contented and paid to him.
▪ VI. † conˈtent, ppl. a. Obs.
[ad. L. content-us.]
Contained.
c1400Apol. Loll. 56 Þe schip & alle þings content þer in.
▪ VII. content
obs. Sc. f. contained, pa. pple of contain. |