Meanings
plural continences · alternative continency
- uncountableusuallymedicineThe voluntary control of urination and defecation.
To maintain continence, the puborectalis muscle chokes the anal canal. The sling of tissue is supposed to release during defecation. Mine has not been doing that.
2022 October 2, Cara Schacter, “My Year of Stress and Constipation”, in The New York Times - uncountableusuallyModeration or self-restraint, especially in sexual activity; abstinence.
For quotations using this term, see Citations:continence.
3 more examples
He knew what to say; he knew also, when to leave off, — a continence which is practised by few writers.
1700, [John] Dryden, “Preface”, in Fables Ancient and Modern; […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLCChastity is either abstinence or continence: abstinence is that of virgins or widows; continence of married persons.
1651, Jer[emy] Taylor, The Rule and Exercises of Holy Living. […], 2nd edition, London: […] Francis Ashe […], →OCLCFor this was a line so little frequented, especially at this hour, when the driver, the stoker, the guard and the station staffs all along the line, were anhelating towards their wives, after the long hours of continence, that the train would hardly draw up, when it would be off again, like a bouncing ball.
1953, Samuel Beckett, Watt, [Paris]: Olympia Press, →OCLCSynonyms: asceticism, temperance
- uncountableusuallyUninterrupted course; continuity.
the Continence of the Cause should be divided
1726, John Ayliffe, Parergon Juris Canonici Anglicani: Or, A Commentary, by Way of Supplement to the Canons and Constitutions of the Church of England. […], London: […] D. Leach, and sold by John Walthoe […], →OCLC
Synonyms & antonyms
nounModeration or self-restraint, especially in sexual activity; abstinence.
antonym(s) of “all”
antonym(s) of “moderation or self-restraint”
More synonyms by meaning
nounthe exercise of self constraint in sexual matters
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Origin
- Latincontinentia“a repression”
- Old Frenchcontinence
- Middle Englishcontynence
- Englishcontinence
Dated from the 14th century as Middle English contynence, from Old French continence, from Latin continentia (“a repression”). See also countenance.
More words from Middle English, Old French, Latin
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Ancient Greek ἐγκράτεια
- ἐγκράτεια (enkráteia)moderation or self-restraint, especially in sexual activity; abstinence
Bulgarian задържане, въздържаност
- задържане (zadăržane)voluntary control of urination and defecation
- въздържаност (văzdăržanost)moderation or self-restraint, especially in sexual activity; abstinence
- умереност (umerenost)moderation or self-restraint, especially in sexual activity; abstinence
Czech kontinence, zdrženlivost
- kontinencevoluntary control of urination and defecation
- zdrženlivostmoderation or self-restraint, especially in sexual activity; abstinence
Dutch continentie, ingetogenheid
- continentievoluntary control of urination and defecation
- ingetogenheidmoderation or self-restraint, especially in sexual activity; abstinence
- onthoudingmoderation or self-restraint, especially in sexual activity; abstinence
Finnish pidättäminen, pidätyskyky
- pidättäminenvoluntary control of urination and defecation
- pidätyskykyvoluntary control of urination and defecation
- pidättyvyysmoderation or self-restraint, especially in sexual activity; abstinence
Irish coinneálacht, geanmnaíocht
- coinneálachtvoluntary control of urination and defecation
- geanmnaíochtmoderation or self-restraint, especially in sexual activity; abstinence
- measarthachtmoderation or self-restraint, especially in sexual activity; abstinence
- féinsmacht collaímoderation or self-restraint, especially in sexual activity; abstinence
Italian continenza, moderazione
- continenzavoluntary control of urination and defecation
- moderazionemoderation or self-restraint, especially in sexual activity; abstinence
- astinenzamoderation or self-restraint, especially in sexual activity; abstinence
- continenzamoderation or self-restraint, especially in sexual activity; abstinence
Scottish Gaelic féin-riaghladh, ceannsachd
- féin-riaghladhmoderation or self-restraint, especially in sexual activity; abstinence
- ceannsachdmoderation or self-restraint, especially in sexual activity; abstinence
- geanasachdmoderation or self-restraint, especially in sexual activity; abstinence
- geanachdmoderation or self-restraint, especially in sexual activity; abstinence
- stuamachdmoderation or self-restraint, especially in sexual activity; abstinence
- geantachdmoderation or self-restraint, especially in sexual activity; abstinence
- geamnaidheachdmoderation or self-restraint, especially in sexual activity; abstinence
- measarrachdmoderation or self-restraint, especially in sexual activity; abstinence
- stuaimmoderation or self-restraint, especially in sexual activity; abstinence
Spanish continencia, continencia
- continenciavoluntary control of urination and defecation
- continenciamoderation or self-restraint, especially in sexual activity; abstinence
Swedish avhållsamhet, återhållsamhet
- avhållsamhetmoderation or self-restraint, especially in sexual activity; abstinence
- återhållsamhetmoderation or self-restraint, especially in sexual activity; abstinence
- måttlighetmoderation or self-restraint, especially in sexual activity; abstinence
Welsh cymgadwriaeth, diweirdeb
- cymgadwriaethmoderation or self-restraint, especially in sexual activity; abstinence
- diweirdebmoderation or self-restraint, especially in sexual activity; abstinence
- diweirdabmoderation or self-restraint, especially in sexual activity; abstinence
- diweireddmoderation or self-restraint, especially in sexual activity; abstinence
- ymarbedmoderation or self-restraint, especially in sexual activity; abstinence
- ymatalmoderation or self-restraint, especially in sexual activity; abstinence
- ymataliadmoderation or self-restraint, especially in sexual activity; abstinence
- ymataliaethmoderation or self-restraint, especially in sexual activity; abstinence
Cite this entry
continence. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/continence
“continence.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/continence. Accessed November 2, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “continence,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/continence.
Source: continence on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.