▪ I. incontinent, a. (n.)
(ɪnˈkɒntɪnənt)
[a. F. incontinent (14th c.) or ad. L. incontinēnt-em, f. in- (in-3) + continēnt- continent.]
A. adj.
1. Not continent; wanting in self-restraint: chiefly with reference to sexual appetite.
| c 1380 Minor Poems fr. Vernon MS. (1892) 138 Of an incontinent monk. c 1450 St. Cuthbert (Surtees) 7037 Þat nane presume, incontinent, To sacre þe haly sacrament. 1526 Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W. 1531) 95 He is so incontynent & vnchaste, y{supt} his mynde is blynde. 1613 Purchas Pilgrimage (1614) 882 It was death for any to be found false and incontinent. 1767 Fawkes Theocritus i. Note cvii. (R.), The mistress of Daphnis upbraiding him for his incontinent passion. 1857 Gladstone Glean. VI. liv. 83 Origen treats the remarriage during the consort's life as forbidden by Scripture; yet thinks it may be conceded, with qualification to the infirmity of incontinent men. |
2. Unable to contain, retain, or keep back. Usually const. of.
| 1641 Milton Ch. Govt. ii. iii, Although I have given it the name of a liquid thing, yet it is not incontinent to bound itself, as humid things are. 1660 ― Free Commw. Wks. (1851) 438 Incontinent of Secrets, if any be imparted to them. a 1680 Butler Rem. (1759) II. 446 A Prodigal..is very loose and incontinent of his Coin, and lets it fly, like Jupiter, in a Shower. 1725 Pope Odyss. xix. 79 Melantho..Renewed the attack, incontinent of spleen. 1865 Sat. Rev. 5 Aug. 167/1 Underlings incontinent of tongue often reveal..the policy of their masters. |
3. Unable to retain natural evacuations.
| 1828 in Webster. 1901 G. B. Shaw Admirable Bashville ii. i. 309 To begin my life a speechless babe, hairless, incontinent, Hobbling upon all fours, a nurse's nuisance. 1973 Times 11 June 14/2 Mrs Jones is doubly incontinent and vomits several times a day. |
B. as n. An unchaste person.
| 1598 B. Jonson Ev. Man in Hum. iv. viii, O, old incontinent, dost thou not shame When all thy powers in chastity are spent To have a mind so hot? |
Hence inˈcontinentness (Bailey vol. II, 1727).
▪ II. incontinent, adv. (a.) arch.
(ɪnˈkɒntɪnənt)
Also 5–6 en-, -tynent, -tenent.
[a. F. incontinent (14th c. = Sp., It. incontinente), ad. late L. in continēnti (sc. tempore) in continuous time, without any interval. The early variant encontinent corresponds to earlier OF. encontenant, Prov. encontenen.]
Straightway, forthwith, at once, immediately, without delay; = incontinently adv.2
| [1432–50 tr. Higden (Rolls) V. 393 Where he diede incontinenti after that he hade seide so.] |
| 1425 Sc. Acts Jas. I (1597) §51 The partie sal be challenged incontinent of the Kingis peace breaking. c 1440 Generydes 1571 Whanne they were come, anon incontynent Generydes was brought owt of the Iayle. Ibid. 1769 Thanne spake Lucas anon encontinent. a 1450 Knt. de la Tour (1868) 130 She was incontenent iuged vnto the dethe. 1523 Ld. Berners Froiss. I. xiv. 14 They entred encontynent into theyr shippes, to passe the see. 1559 Morwyng Evonym. 12 A water may be made which shall incontenent breake the stone in the bladdar. 1609 Skene Reg. Maj. ii. xl. 36 Heires being of lawfull age, incontinent after the deceis of their predicessours they may enter to their heretage. c 1611 Chapman Iliad xxiv. 299 This charge incontinent He put in practice. 1719 D'Urfey Pills (1872) III. 326 Behind the Cloth the Friar went, And was in the Well incontinent. 1818 Scott Hrt. Midl. xxi, The Lords will be here incontinent, and proceed instanter to trial. 1840 Barham Ingol. Leg. Ser. i. Leech Folkestone, Place thyself incontinent in yonder bath. |
b. as adj. (nonce-use) Immediate
| 1840 Barham Ingol. Leg. Ser. 1, Leech Folkestone, Hath any one a smoky chimney?—here is an incontinent cure. |