Pronunciation: [kˈɒntɪnənt] (IPA) 
The word "continent" is spelled with four syllables, con-ti-nent, and the stress falls on the second syllable. The IPA phonetic transcription of the word is /ˈkɒntɪnənt/. The first "o" is pronounced as a short "o" sound, and the second "i" is pronounced as a long "ee" sound. The "e" at the end of the word is silent. The word "continent" refers to one of the seven large land masses on Earth, such as Africa, Asia, or Europe.
A continent is a large, continuous landmass that forms one of Earth's major divisions. It is typically surrounded by water and distinguished from other landmasses by its sheer size and geological attributes. Continents are recognized as distinct parts of the Earth's surface due to their unique characteristics, including their specific boundaries, tectonic foundations, and individual geological histories.
Geographically, continents are typically determined by their extensive coverage of land and their separation from other continents by bodies of water, such as oceans. They are considered self-contained regions with distinct ecosystems, climates, and landforms. Continents may consist of various countries, territories, and landscapes, harboring diverse flora, fauna, and human populations.
The concept of continents has evolved over time. Initially, landmasses were broadly categorized into seven continents: Africa, Antarctica, Asia, Europe, North America, Australia, and South America. However, this classification could vary depending on cultural, historical, and scientific perspectives. For instance, some sources consider Europe and Asia to be part of a single continent called Eurasia. Meanwhile, regions like the Indian subcontinent may be referred to as sub-continents due to their distinctive features and boundaries within a larger landmass.
Overall, continents serve as fundamental divisions of Earth's surface, providing a framework for understanding and organizing the planet's vast land areas and their varied characteristics.
Temperate or abstinent as regards sexual indulgence.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
• Restrained; moderate; temperate; chaste.
• A large extent of land containing many countries; the mainland; the countries of the mainland of Europe, especially as distinguished from the British Islands.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "continent" comes from the Latin word "continent-", which is the present participle form of the verb "continere". "Continere" is made up of two Latin words: "con", meaning "together", and "tenere", meaning "to hold". Therefore, "continent" originally meant "that which holds (or contains) together". The term was used to refer to large land masses that were considered to be continuous and separate from each other, such as Europe, Asia, and Africa.
