- OE. contenenconteinen, F. contenir, fr. L. continere-tentum; con- + tenere to hold. See Tenable, and cf. Countenance
- 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!When that this body did contain a spirit.What thy stores contain bring forth.
- To have capacity for; to be able to hold; to hold; to be equivalent to; as, a bushel contains four pecks.
- To put constraint upon; to restrain; to confine; to keep within bounds.Obs., exept as used reflexivelyThe king's person contains the unruly people from evil occasions.Fear not, my lord: we can contain ourselves.
