content

views updated May 21 2018

con·tent1 / kənˈtent/ • adj. in a state of peaceful happiness: he seemed more content, less bitter. ∎  satisfied with a certain level of achievement, good fortune, etc., and not wishing for more: to be content with third place.• v. [tr.] satisfy (someone): nothing would content her. ∎  (content oneself with) accept as adequate despite wanting more or better.• n. 1. a state of satisfaction.2. a member of the British House of Lords who votes for a particular motion.PHRASES: to one's heart's content to the full extent of one's desires.con·tent2 / ˈkänˌtent/ • n. 1. (usu. contents) the things that are held or included in something: he picked up the correspondence and scanned the contents. ∎  [usu. in sing.] the amount of a particular constituent occurring in a substance: milk with a low-fat content. ∎  (contents or table of contents) a list of the titles of chapters or sections contained in a book or periodical.2. the substance or material dealt with in a speech, literary work, etc., as distinct from its form or style: the outward form and precise content of the messages.DERIVATIVES: con·tent·less adj.

content

views updated Jun 27 2018

content 2 satisfied, gratified. XIV. — (O)F. :- L. contentus that is satisfied, pp. of continēre fig. repress, restrain (see CONTAIN).
So content vb., contentment XV.

content

views updated May 21 2018

content 1 (usu. pl.) what is contained; containing capacity or extent. XV. — medL. *contentum, pl. -ta things contained, sb. use of n. of L. contentus, pp. of continēre CONTAIN.

content

views updated Jun 08 2018

content 3 satisfaction. XVI. immed. source obscure; perh. f. prec. as a shorter form equiv. to the earlier †contentation (XV) or contentment (XV), and corr. to Sp., Pg., It. contento.