content 
Heart's content, full "i- rompiric satisfaction. 
I wl.sli yullr ijuivship :tll A- <" ' '.- MHA "'. 
SI:,,/;.. \I. of V., ill. I. 
Til.- Mrst tiling ' >H'I on lioardiiig Privateer was t.. get 
such tilings us we could to gralilic our Indian liuidcs. fur 
we wen- resulted In rctvard them t" lh< ii // -H/-N ci,//r. /./ 
ll,inil,i, r. Voyages, I. 23. 
content' 2 (kon'teiit or kon-tent'), n. [< L. COM- 
leiilim, pp., in lit. sense, contained: see con- 
f-/i, .] 1. That which is contained; the 
thing or things hold, included, or comprehended 
within a limit or limits: usually in the plural : 
as, (lit! i-ii n ten 1.1 of a cask or a bale, of a room or 
a ship, of a book or a document. 
I have a letter from her, 
Of such content* as you will wonder at. 
Shot., M. W. of W., iv. 8. 
The finite spirit itaelf, with nil its content, liecomes one 
of the ri.ntiiiiLi-nt unconnected facts of experience. 
Adamion, Philos. of Kant, p. 6. 
2. In acorn., the area or space included within 
certain limits. [In this and the next sense 
most frequently singular.] 
The geometrical content of all the lands of a kingdom. 
Oraunt, Obs. on Bills of Mortality. 
3. In logic, the sum of the attributes or notions 
which constitute the meaning and are expressed 
in the definition of a given conception : thus, 
animiil, rational, etc., form the content of the 
conception man. The content of cognition is the 
matter of knowledge, that which comes from 
without the mind. 
The husis and content of all experience Is feeling. 
O. H. Lemn, Probs. of Life and Mind, II. ii. ? 12. 
The attempt [to discriminate the objective from the 
subjective elements] would only be possible on the ground 
that we could, at any time and in any way, disengage 
Thought from its content. J. FwArc, Cosmic Philos., I. 50. 
So, while we are all along preferring a more pleasurable 
state of consciousness before a less, the content of our con- 
sciousness is continually changing ; the greater pleasure 
still outweighs the less, but the pleasures to be weighed 
are either wholly different, or at least arc the same for us 
no more. J. Ward, Eucyc. Brit., XX. 72. 
4. The power of containing; capacity; extent 
within limits. 
Haitiugs of wild beasts, as Elephants, Rhinoceros, Ti- 
gers, Leopards and others, which sights much delighted 
the common people, and therefore the places required to 
be large and of great content. 
Puttenliam, Arte of Eng. Poesie, p. 30. 
This island had then fifteen hundred strong ships of 
great content. Bacon. 
5. In the customs, a paper delivered to the 
searcher by the master of a vessel before she 
is cleared outward, describing the vessel's des- 
ignation and detailing the goods shipped, with 
other particulars. This content has to be com- 
pared with the cockets and the indorsements 
and clearances thereon. --Linear content or con- 
tents, length along a straight, curved, or broken line. 
Solid content <>r contents, the number of solid units 
c oiitained in a spact-, as of cubic indies, feet, yards, etc. ; 
volume. Superficial content or contents, the measure 
of a surface in square measure; area. Table Of con- 
tents, a statement or summary of ail the matters treated 
in a book, arranged in the order of succession, and (gener- 
ally) prefixed to it. 
content ;! t, n. [< ME. content, < OF. content, cun- 
tent, contend, contant, content, contans, contemn, 
contemps, cont<imps (= Pr. conten), dispute, quar- 
reling, contention, < contendre, dispute, quarrel, 
contend: see contend. Content is related to 
contend as extent to extend, ascent to ascend, etc.] 
Contention ; dispute ; strife ; quarrel. 
Where-apou, the sayde John Brendon stode in a con- 
tfnt ayenst the sayde Master and Wardonys, to he prevyd 
perjofi-d. Emjlifk Gild* (E. E. T. 8.), p. S23. 
COntentablet (kon-ten'ta-bl), o. [< content*, r., 
+ -ulile.] Able to satisfy; satisfying. 
contentationt (kon-ten-ta'shon), n. [< ME. 
einiteiitnci<i,<. OF.<-ontetecion,< ML. contenta- 
tiii(n-), < eoiitrntdre, pp. contentatns, content: 
see content 1 , v.] 1. Content; satisfaction. 
Not only eonlealatioii In mimic but quietnesse in con- 
science. Li/lii, Euphues, Anat. of Wit, p. 138. 
Happiness therefore is that estate whereby we attain 
. . . the full possession of that which simply for itself is 
to be desired, and contaiueth in it, after an eminent sort, 
the contentation of our desires. 
Hooker, Eccles. Polity, i. 11. 
He promised to please her mind, and so tooke in hand 
the setting of her ruffs, which he performed to her great 
contentation and liking. 
Stubbea, Anat. of Abuses (ed. 1595), p. 43. 
2. Discharge or payment ; satisfaction, as of a 
claim. 
Ami so the hole Somme for full contentacion of the said 
Chapcll \Vaigics fur oonc hole Yen- ys xxxvf. xv. 
ifuoted in /;/.,,,- /,W-(K. E. T. H.), p. xciv. 
And yf they hum' non ;roo.ls nercatelles, sufficiant to the 
roiit'-ntui-ii'ti n!' siiinmcs so fiirfet. then to haue auctorite 
:nnl power t" inukt- scueralle capias ad satisfaciendam 
ayensl Ilirin. Kn : ilixli Gilds (E. E. T. S.), p. 404. 
1225 
contented (k<m tcn'tod), p. a. [Pp. of content*, 
r.] I. Possessing or characterized by content- 
nii-nl ; s:il i.slii-d with present conditions; not 
given to complaining or to a desire for anything 
further or different; satisfied: as, a mutinied 
man ; a person of a nnilenteil disposition. 
Desiring this man's art, and that man's scope, 
With what I most enjoy contented least. 
Slmk.. Sonnets, xxix. 
2. Fully disposed; not loth; willing; ready; 
resigned; passive. 
This thy family, for which our Lord Jesus Christ was 
contented to be betrayed, . . . and to suffer death upon 
the cross. 
Hook of Common Prayer, Collect for Good Friday. 
Men are contented to he laughed at for their wit, but not 
for their folly. Sifi/t, Thoughts on Various Subjects. 
A contented acquiescence in the chronic absence of be- 
lief is as little creditable to the intellect as to the heart. 
//. A'. Oxennam, Short Studies, p. 275. 
contentedly (kon-ten'ted-li), adv. In a con- 
tented manner ; quietly ; without concern. 
Passed the hours contentedly with chat. 
Drayton, PoeU and Poesy. 
contentedness (kon-ten'ted-nes), n. The state 
of being contented ; satisfaction of mind with 
any condition or event. 
Miracles . . . met with a passive willingness, a content- 
edness in the patient to receive and believe them. 
Hammond, Works, IV. 822. 
contentful! (kon-tent'ful), a. [< content*, n., + 
-fill, I.] Fullof contentment. 
Contentful submission to God's disposal of things. 
Barrow, Works, III. vi. 
contention (kon-ten'shon), n. [< ME. conten- 
cion, < OF. contencion, F. contention = Sp. con- 
tendon = Pg. contencSo = It. contenziotte, < L. 
contetio(n-'), < contendere, pp. contentus, con- 
tend: see contend.] 1. A violent effort to ob- 
tain something, or to resist physical force, 
whether an assault or bodily opposition ; physi- 
cal contest; struggle; strife. 
But when your troubled country called you forth, 
Your flaming courage and your matchless worth 
To fierce contention gave a prosperous end. 
Waller, To my Lord Protector. 
2. Strife in words or debate ; wrangling ; an- 
gry contest ; quarrel ; controversy ; litigation. 
A fool's lips enter Into contention. Prov. xviii. (i. 
Avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and conten- 
tions, and strivings about the law. Tit. ill. 9. 
3. Strife or endeavor to excel ; competition ; 
emulation. 
No quarrel, but a slight contention. 
Shot., S Hen. VI., L 2. 
4f. Effort ; struggle ; vehement endeavor. 
This Is an end which, at first view, appears worthy our 
utmost contention to obtain. Jioyers. 
6. That which is affirmed or contended for; an 
argument or a statement in support of a point 
or proposition ; a main point in controversy. 
But my i-niii: iiiinii Is that knowledge does not take its 
rise in general conceptions. 
0. II. Lewes, Probs. of Life and Mind, II. iv. $ 25. 
German history might be quite as remunerative to us as 
ours is to the Germans. Such has always lieen my conten- 
tion. Stubbs, Medieval and Modern Hist., p. 62. 
I am most anxious that my contention in writing as I 
have done should not be misunderstood. 
Nineteenth Century, XX. 450. 
Bone of contention. See bond. = Syn. 1 and 2. Discus- 
sion, variance, disagreement, feud, wrangle, altercation. 
See strife. 
contentious (kon-ten'shus), a. [= F. conten- 
tieui = Sp. Pg! ' contencioao = It. contenzioso, < 
L. con tentiosus, quarrelsome, perverse, < conten- 
WO(H-), contention.] 1. Apt to contend; given 
to angry debate; quarrelsome; perverse; liti- 
gious. 
A continual dropping In a very rainy day and a conten- 
tious woman are alike. Prov. xxvii. 15. 
[They] had entertained one Hull, an excommunicated 
person and very contentious, for their minister. 
n'inthrop. Hist. New England, II. 121. 
The book ["Refutation of Deism "] may be regarded as 
the last development of that contentious, argumentative 
side of Shelley s nature which found expression at an 
earlier time in the letters addressed by him under feigned 
names to eminent champions of orthodoxy. 
K. Doinlen, Shelley, I. 398. 
2. Relating to or characterized by contention 
or strife; involving contention or debate. 
Not for malice and content ioiut crymes, 
But all for prayse. and proofe of manly might, 
The martial! brood accustomed to fight. 
Spenser, F. Q..III. 1. 13. 
When we turn to his opponents, we emerge from the 
learned obscurity of the black-letter precincts to the niutv 
cheerful, though not less contentions, regions of political 
men. Brougham, Burke. 
conterminant 
To go into questions of gun manufacture here, probably 
tin- most I'liiil.'HiiHitsot all subjects under tin *un. i- "f 
course impossible. Contemporary Ken., LI. 270. 
3. In lair, relating to causes between contend- 
ing parties. 
The lord chief justices and judges have a rnnienliaut 
jurisdiction ; but the lords of the treasury and the com- 
missioners of the customs have none, lieing merely judges 
of accounts and transaction!. Ckambert. 
In contentious suite It Is difficult to draw the line be- 
tween judicial decision and arbitration. 
Stubtu, Const. Hist, i 87. 
Contentious argument, an argument which is framed 
only to ileceive or to put down an opponent, not to ad- 
vance trulb. -Syn. 1 :ni'l 2. Pugnacious, disputatious, 
i ;i|it i'-ii-, \M iinuliiii:, litigious, factious. 
COntentiously (kon-ten'shus-li), adr. In a con- 
tentious manner; quarrelsomely; perversely; 
with wrangling. 
The justices were to apprehend and take all such as did 
e<intenti<iulit and tumultuously. 
Striii>c, Memorials, Edw. VI., an. 1548. 
contentiousness (kpn-ten'shus-nes), n. A dis- 
position to wrangle or contend ; proneness to 
strife; perverseness ; quarrelsomeness. 
Contentiousness in a feast of charity Is more scandal 
than any posture. G. Herbert, Country Parson, xxli. 
COntentivet (kon-ten'tiv), a. [< content* + -ire; 
= F. contentif, "etc.] Producing or giving con- 
tent. 
They shall find it a more eontentive life than Idleness or 
perpetual joviality. 
Jer. Taylor, Holy Dying, 67 (Ord MS.). 
contentless 1 (kon-tent'les), a. [< content*, n., 
+ -legs.] Discontented; dissatisfied; uneasy. 
[Rare.] 
Him we wrong with our contentletme choyce. 
./"/,,, fieaumont, Congratulation to the Muses. 
contentless 2 (kon'tent-les), a. [< content 2 + 
-less. ] Void of content or meaning. 
So far the Idea remains contentlew. Mind, XI. 429. 
contentlyt (kon-tent'li), adv. In a contented 
way. 
Come, well away unto your country-house, 
And there we'll learn to live contently. 
Fletcher, Rule a Wife, v. S. 
contentment (kon-tent'ment), n. [< F. conten- 
tenient = Sp. contentamiento = Pg. It. contcnta- 
mento, contentment; as content*, r., + -ment.] 
1 . That degree of happiness which consists in 
being satisfied with present conditions ; a quiet, 
uncomplaining, satisfied mind ; content. 
The noblest mind the best contentment has. 
Spenner, V. Q., I. L 35. 
Contentment without external honour is humility. 
N. Grew, Cosmologia Sacra. 
Ctitentnunt is one thing ; happiness quite another. 
The former results from the want of desire; the latter 
from its gratification. The one arises from the absence 
of pain ; the other from the presence of pleasure. 
L. F. Ward, Dynam. Sociol., II. 207. 
2. Gratification, or means of gratification; sat- 
isfaction. 
You shall have no wrong done you, noble Ciesar, 
But all contentment. B. Jonson, Catiline, v. 4. 
At Paris the prince spent one whole day, to give his 
mind some contentment in viewing a famous city. 
Sir //. Walton. 
= 8yn. ContcntHtent, Satisfaction. Contentment is pas- 
sive ; iatinfattion is active. The former Is the feeling of 
one who does not needlessly pine after what is beyond 
his reach, nor fret at the hardship of his condition ; the 
latter describes the mental condition of one who has all 
he desires, and feels pleasure in the contemplation of his 
situation. A needy man may lie contented, but can hardly 
be mtitjied. See satisfy, hajipinest. 
contents (kon'tents or kon-tents'), pi- See 
content?. 
conteritiont, " [An erroneous form of contri- 
tion, q. v.] A rubbing or striking together. 
Hares. 
He being gone, Francion did light his torch again by the 
means of a flint, that by contention sparkled out fire. 
Comical Hist, of Francion. 
conterminable (kon-ter'mi-na-bl), a. [< con- 
+ terminable.] 1. Capable of being limited or 
terminated by the same bounds. 2. Limited 
or terminated by the same bounds ; contermi- 
nous. [Rare.] 
Love and life are not conterminable. 
Sir H. Wotton, Reliquiae, p. 477. 
conterminal (kon-ter'mi-nal), a. [< COM- + ter- 
minal.] 1. Conterminous. 2. In entom., at- 
tached end to end : said of the parts of a jointed 
organ when each has its base attached to the 
apex of the preceding one so that they form a 
regular line. 
conterminantt (kon-ter'mi-nant), a. [< LL. 
eontrrmintin(t-)fi, ppr. of cnnterminare, border 
on: see roiiti 'nuinnte.] Having the same limits; 
conterminous. 
