▪ I. † continue, (a.), n.1 Obs.
[a. F. continu, -ue, ad. L. continu-us: see continuous. But in B. c. perh. a vbl. n. from continue v.]
A. adj. Continuous.
B. n. a. A continuous fever; = F. fièvre continue.
| c 1500 Melusine 299 Madame, I haue be somewhat euyl at ease & haue had axez in manner of a contynue. |
b. Continued or continuous land, continent.
| 1630 R. Johnson's Kingd. & Commonw. 575 A conteinue almost twelve hundred leagues; yet divided into many kingdomes. |
c. Continued course, continuance in time.
| 1556 J. Olde Antechrist 69 In all the continue of our life. |
▪ II. continue, n.2
var. of contenu, Obs. contents.
▪ III. continue, v.
(kənˈtɪnjuː)
Forms: 4–6 contynue, (contynu), -tynew(e, -tinew, 5 -tynwe, -tenue, -tenewe, -tenwe, -teynue, 7 -tinu, 4– continue. See also contain v. 17 and contune.
[a. F. continue-r (13th c. in Littré), ad. L. continuāre ‘to make continuous’, more rarely ‘to be continuous’, f. continu-us continuous. There seems to have been frequent confusion in ME. between this word and contain in its early form contene, due perh. to F. contenu and L. continui, parts of contenir, continēre to contain, or to the Eng. n. contenu = F. contenu content. Hence sense 17 ‘to contain,’ and contain v. 17 in sense ‘continue’; see also contune.]
I. transitive.
1. To carry on, keep up, maintain, go on with, persist in (an action, usage, etc.).
| a 1340 Hampole Psalter 525 Þe desire to receyf more & to contynu it. 1375 Barbour Bruce xix. 235 [Thai] continuit thair mavite Quhen euir thai met thame on the se. c 1400 Lanfranc's Cirurg. (MS. A.) 91 Þis medicyn þou schalt contynuen til it be hool. c 1489 Caxton Sonnes of Aymon xix. 416 Better to haue peas than for to contynewe the werre. c 1530 Ld. Berners Arth. Lyt. Bryt. Pref. (1814) 4 Audacyte to contynue forth my fyrste purpose. 1596 Shakes. Tam. Shr. i. i. 27, I am..Glad that you thus continue your resolue. 1646 Sir T. Browne Pseud. Ep. vi. x, Negroes transplanted into cold..habitations continue their hue. 1749 Fielding Tom Jones i. i, The whole, to continue the same metaphor, consists in the cookery of the author. 1874 Bancroft Footpr. Time viii. 201 To continue the struggle. 1879 Jenkinson Guide Eng. Lakes 194 Continuing the ascent, and bearing a little to the left. |
2. To cause to last or endure; to prolong, keep up (something external to the agent).
| c 1380 Wyclif Serm. Sel. Wks. I. 113 Crist to contynue devocioun of þis womman, answeride not first a word to hir. 1599 Thynne Animadv. (1865) 67 Howe this ordale was contynued in Englande in the tyme of kinge Iohane. 1611 Bible Ps. lxxii. 17 His name shalbe continued as long as the sunne. 1658 Sir T. Browne Hydriot. iv. 28 A good Way to continue their Memories. 1753 Johnson in Boswell 1 Jan., Almighty God who hast continued my life to this day. 1862 Ruskin Munera P. (1880) 5 If the qualities are continued by descent through a generation or two. |
3. With extension or complement: To keep on, maintain, retain (in a place, condition, etc.).
| c 1460 Fortescue Abs. & Lim. Mon. xix. (1714) 145 God contenewe his grace and persone in long lyffe w{supt} increse. 1588 Let. in Harl. Misc. (Malh.) I. 143 We were continued all this year in assured hope of a full victory. 1605 Bacon Adv. Learn. ii. xiv. §10 If a child were continued in a grot or cave under the earth until maturity of age. 1657 Vestry Bks. (Surtees) 311 That John Philpott be continued clerk of this parish. 1670 tr. Machiavelli's Princes (Rtldg. 1883) 245 Pagolo and the Duke de Gravina were continued alive. 1670 Walton Hooker in Lives iii. 159 To continue him at School. 1741 Richardson Pamela (1824) I. iv. 19 No lady..would care to continue me with her. 1771 Goldsm. Hist. Eng. IV. 160 He was still continued the reluctant general of the army. 1793 Smeaton Edystone L. §153 It..seemed unprofitable to continue the companies longer in a state of hardship. 1850 W. Irving Mahomet xxx. (1853) 151 He was continued in his office. |
† b. ellipt. Obs. cf. quot. 1670 above.
| 1603 Shakes. Meas. for M. iv. iii. 88 But Barnardine must die this afternoone, And how shall we continue Claudio? |
† 4. To make continuous with, connect or attach to. Obs.
| 1387 Trevisa Higden (Rolls) I. 73 Paradys is so hiȝe and in oon place contynued to þe erþe. c 1400 Lanfranc's Cirurg. (MS. A.) 147 Þe braunchis of þe senewis of þe heed in sum place ben conteynued & ioyned with þese senewis. 1646 Sir T. Browne Pseud. Ep. v. v. 239 The use of the Navell is to continue the infant unto the Mother. |
5. To carry on, take up, resume (a narrative, etc.) from a point of suspension or interruption.
| c 1425 Wyntoun Cron. i. i. 17 Ðe thryde [Buke] sall contynwyde be Quhille made of Rome wes þe cite. 1597 Shakes. 2 Hen. IV Epil., Our humble Author will continue the Story (with Sir John in it). 1641 J. Jackson True Evang. T. i. 49 Antonius Ciccarella, who continueth on the history of Platina. 1805 Scott Last Minstr. v. Prol., And thus his tale continued ran. 1823 Lamb Elia xi. Imperf. Symp., Hume's History compared with his [Smollett's] Continuation of it. What if the Historian had continued Humphrey Clinker? |
6. To carry on in space; to prolong, produce.
| 1667 Milton P.L. ii. 1029 A Bridge of wondrous length From Hell continu'd reaching th' utmost Orbe Of this frail World. 1703 Moxon Mech. Exerc. 274 Then continue (viz. draw longer) both the lines AB, CD. 1784 Gent. Mag. LIV. ii. 643 The arch is now continuing under the intended road..for which purpose a hill contiguous is cutting down. 1831 Brewster Optics ii. 18 If we continue backwards the rays DE, FE, they will meet at m. |
7. To carry on in a line of succession or development; to furnish a sequel or successor to.
| 1865 M. Arnold Ess. Crit. ii. (1875) 62 The man of genius was continued by the English analysts of the eighteenth century..The man of intelligence was continued by successors like Bernouilli, Euler, and Laplace. |
8. Law. To adjourn, prorogue, put off. (esp. Sc.).
| 1469 Sc. Acts Jas. III, §38 The court of Parliament..or sic like courtis, that has continuacione, nedis nocht to be continuit fra day to day. c 1565 Lindesay (Pitscottie) Chron. Scot. (1728) 188 The Governor..wrote to the Cardinal to continue the accusation of Mr. George, till he spake with him. a 1639 Spottiswood Hist. Ch. Scot. 258 (Jam.) But the Regent's death, and the troubles which thereupon issued, made all to be continued for that time. 1798 Dallas Amer. Law Rep. II. 44 The cause was continued on a rule for trial at the next term. 1861 W. Bell Dict. Law Scot. s.v. Diet, After the day of appearance has once arrived, the diet may be continued by an act of the Court..The continuation must be to another day certain, for the diet cannot be continued indefinitely, or sine die. 1890 Boston (Mass.) Jrnl. 23 May 1/6 He appeared before Judge Sanger of the District court in Cambridge this morning, and has his case continued until June 4. |
b. Stock Exchange. (See quot.)
| 1886 Law Times LXXX. 206/1 ‘To continue’ is a technical term, which means to sell and to rebuy the same amount of stock at a future date at the same price, a further sum being paid for the accommodation. |
II. intr.
9. To remain in existence or in its present condition; to last, endure, persist in being.
| c 1400 Lanfranc's Cirurg. 120 Þe sike man muste nedis die, namely & þe accidentis contynewen [MS. A. conteynen]. 1535 Coverdale 1 Sam. xiii. 14 But now shall not thy kyngdome contynue. 1577 B. Googe Heresbach's Husb. ii. (1586) 108 b, Built with rafters and beames of Juniper, to the end it might continue. 1667 Pepys Diary (1879) IV. 273 My mother grows so much worse, that he fears she cannot long continue. 1746–7 Hervey Medit. (1818) 106 This habitable globe..could no more continue, than they could create themselves. 1878 Browning La Saisiaz 59 Let what now exists continue. |
10. To remain, stay, or abide (in a place).
| 1417 in Ellis Orig. Lett. ii. 19. I. 55 Of us which are continuinge in a lande of warr. 1526 Tindale Matt. xv. 32 Because they haue contynued with me now .iii. dayes, and haue nought to eate. 1611 Bible John ii. 12 They continued there not many days. 1667 Milton P.L. ii. 314 So the popular vote Inclines, here to continue. 1814 Jane Austen Lady Susan xxiii. (1879) 254 Frederica is made wretched by his continuing here. 1839 J. Yeowell Anc. Brit. Ch. xi. 122 Ireland, where he is supposed to have continued four years. |
11. With complement or extension: To remain (in a specified state or capacity).
| 1503–4 Act 19 Hen. VII, c. 39 Preamb., Sythen whiche tyme your seid Subgiect hathe contynued..your feythfull and true liegeman. 1509 Fisher Fun. Serm. C'tess Richmond Wks. (1876) 294 Thoughe she alway contynued not in her vyrgynyte. 1606 Shakes. Ant. & Cl. iv. vi. 29 Your Emperor Continues still a Ioue. 1611 ― Cymb. i. vi. 56 Continues well my Lord? 1667 Milton P.L. v. 521 That thou art happie, owe to God; That thou continu'st such, owe to thy self. 1737 Whiston Josephus' Antiq. v. i. §28 The Deity would continue their friend. 1761 Johnson Let. Baretti 10 June in Boswell, Your English style still continues in its purity and vigour. 1884 M. E. Braddon Ishmael xli, It is impossible you should continue unhappy if you follow the dictates of honour and conscience. |
12. To persist in action, persevere; to go on, keep on. (Now rare of persons.)
| c 1340 Hampole Prose Tr. 25 He continued alle night in prayers alone. 14.. Circumcision in Tundale's Vis. (1843) 94 To contynu in vertu tyll thei dey. 1570 Levins Manip. 95 To continew, perseuerare. 1605 Shakes. Macb. v. i. 34, I haue knowne her continue in this [washing her hands] a quarter of an houre. 1677 Littleton Lat. Dict. s.v., To continue or hold on in that he began. 1751 Smollett Per. Pic. lxii, The altercation continued until they entered the gates of Antwerp. 1877 A. Brassey Voy. Sunbeam i, The breeze continued. 1882 J. H. Blunt Ref. Ch. Eng. II. 220 The persecution continued with unabated rigour. |
13. to continue doing or continue to do: to go on doing, not to cease. Sometimes with on.
| 1382 Wyclif Luke xxiii. 23 And thei contynueden axinge with greete voices, that he schulde be crucified. 1526 Tindale Acts xii. 16 Peter contynued knockinge. 1611 Bible 1 Sam. i. 12 As she continued praying before the Lord. 1651 Hobbes Leviath. ii. xxvi. 139 By whose authority they now continue to be Lawes. 1667 Milton P.L. ix. 138 In one day to have marr'd What he..six Nights and Days Continu'd making. 1719 Lock in W. Wood Surv. Trade 59 [It] is likely to continue on to do so. 1722 Lond. Gaz. No. 6041/10 The Pills continue to be sold by him. 1776 Trial of Nundocomar 24/1 Kissen Juan Doss continues reading from the Rosenamma. 1875 Jevons Money (1878) 83 They will continue to circulate as token coins. |
14. To proceed in one's discourse; to resume or go on after pause or interruption.
| 1711 Steele Spect. No. 118 ¶2 Of all persons under the Sun (continued he..) be sure to set a Mark upon Confidents. 1726 Swift Gulliver ii. iii, And thus he continued on, while my colour came and went..with indignation. 1885 Sir W. V. Field in Law Times Rep. LII. 654/2 Lord Erskine continues thus: ‘If the court can discover,’ etc. |
† 15. ? To be or occur as sequel (Schmidt), or ? To remain behind. Obs.
| 1607 Shakes. Timon ii. ii. 5 He..takes no accompt How things go from him, nor resumes no care Of what is to continue. |
† 16. To be attached or cohere to (so as to form a continuous mass). Obs.
| 1626 Bacon Sylva §293 Such Bodies doe partly follow the Touch of another Body, and partly sticke and continue to themselues..as we see in Pitch, Glew, Birdlime, etc. |
† III. 17. = contain. Obs.
[See the etymology, and cf. contain v. 17.]
| 1377 Langl. P. Pl. B. ix. 177 And euery maner seculer þat may nouȝt continue [v.r. contene. conteyne], Wysly go wedde. c 1380 Wyclif Sel. Wks. III. 349 Suche blasfemyes ben foundun & contynnued in þes sectis. a 1450 Knt. de la Tour lxxxi. (1868) 105 Y haue spoke unto you of diuerse women..as it is continued in the bible. 1550 Gardiner in Foxe A. & M. (1563) 760 a, I receiued a letter..and toke it..to continue no effectual inhibicion. 1572 J. Jones Bathes Buckstone Pref. 8 If the style or endyting be best, which continueth the matter. |