contentment
(kənˈtɛntmənt)
[a. F. contentement (late 16th c. in Littré), f. contenter to content: see -ment. In Eng. it has to a great extent exchanged the character of a noun of action for that of a noun of quality derived from an adj., as if = contentness, contentedness.]
1. The action of satisfying; the process of being satisfied; satisfaction. arch.
| 1474 Househ. Ord. 22 For the contentement of his household royal and creditors thereof. 1568 in Hakluyt Voy. (1598) I. 377. 1576 Fleming Panopl. Epist. 35 The Victor..must doe many thinges to the expectation and contentment of them, by whose helpe he obteined the victorie. a 1657 Sir J. Balfour Ann. Scot. (1824–5) II. 265 Doing the best worke..for the honor of God, contentment of the King. 1821 Scott Kenilw. ii, The guests took their leave..to the contentment of mine host. 1851 Helps Comp. Solit. ix. (1874) 156 With no contentment to the appetites of the hungry. |
† b. Satisfaction of a claim; payment. rare.
| 1603 Knolles Hist. Turks (1621) 1116 The lord Swartzenburg..was comming with money to give them contentment. |
2. The fact, condition, or quality of being contented; contentedness. (The usual modern sense.)
| 1597 Hooker Eccl. Pol. v. lxviii. §12 The same contentment, tranquilitie, and ioy, that others..haue reaped. 1611 Bible 1 Tim. vi. 6 But godlinesse with contentment is great gaine. 1641 Hinde J. Bruen xxxvi. 112 In much contentment and peace, He began to look homewards. 1768 Beattie Minstr. i. xiii, From health contentment springs. 1886 Morley Comte (Crit. Misc.) III. 339 After a short experiment of three weeks, Comte returned to neediness and contentment. |
b. Const. with, † in.
| 1651 Fuller Abel Rediv., Cowper (1867) II. 311 He manifested to his friends what great contentment he had in his approaching death. a 1698 Temple (J.), Contentment in his will is the best remedy we can apply to misfortunes. 1856 Emerson Eng. Traits, Lit. Wks. (Bohn) II. 113 Squalid contentment with conventions. 1871 Morley Voltaire (1886) 38 To abide in patient contentment with an all but purely critical reserve. |
† 3. Pleasure, delight, gratification. Obs.
| 1586 R. Scot in Holinshed Chron. III. 1546/1 There was never worke attempted with more desire, nor proceeded in with more contentment. 1600 Holland Livy iv. xl. 164 They caused..great contentment [lætitiam] after former fear. 1622 Wither Mistr. Philar. (1633) 643 Never word of hers I heare But..[it]..much more contentment brings Than the sweetly-touched strings. 1726 W. R. Chetwood Adv. Capt. R. Boyle 41 At the reading of this Paper, my Heart ran over with Contentment. 1795 Southey Joan of Arc v. 311, I..feel Joy and contentment in the merciful task For which I am sent forth. |
† 4. A source of satisfaction or pleasure; a pleasure, enjoyment, delight; = content n.2 3.
| 1579 G. Harvey Letter-bk. (Camden) 86 Untill a mans fansye be satisfied, he wantith his most soveraigne contentement. 1581 Mulcaster Positions xxxviii. (1887) 177 Many and great contentmentes, many and sound comfortes. 1603 Knolles Hist. Turks (1621) 1235 Money and apparell, the souldiors greatest contentments. 1611 Markham (title), Country Contentments..as namely Hunting, Hawking, etc. 1692 Lady Russell Lett. II. cxxxv. 109 As for reading, I am past that contentment. |