contenˈtation
[15th c. ad. med.L. contentātiōn-em (1409 in Du Cange), n. of action f. med.L. contentāre, F. contenter to content. A much commoner word in Eng. than in any Romanic lang.: Godefroy cites a single instance from a Swiss Burgundian document of 1424, and the word is not in Cotgr., nor is it in It., Sp., or Pg.]
† 1. The action of contenting or satisfying. Obs.
| 1519 Interl. Four Elem. (Pollard 1890) 101 For the contembtacyon of my mynde. 1574 R. Scot Hop Gard. To Rdr., To the contentacion of the ydle. 1603 Jas. I in Ellis Orig. Lett. i. 239 For the contentation of our subjects. |
† b. The contenting oneself or one's mind with what one has; acquiescence in or acceptance of the situation. Obs.
| 1567 Harman Caveat 40 He vsed contentacion for his remedy. 1570 J. Heywood Be merry, friends (1848), Let contentashyn be decree, Make vertue of necessytee. 1589 Cooper Admon. 234 The bridling of the affections and humble contentation of the minde before God. 1631 G. Webbe Quietn. (1657) 121 With a Christian contentation to bear with their masters infirmities. |
† 2. The resulting fact of being satisfied; satisfaction. Obs.
| 1494 Fabyan Chron. vii. ccxxxv. 271 Y⊇ which he punysshed..to the great contentacion of the countrey. 1587 Fleming Contn. Holinshed III. 1966/1 To atchiue his purpose to his good contentation without anie great danger. 1611 Dekker Roaring Girle i. Wks. 1873 III. 138 Your pleasure shall be satisfied to your full contentation. 1681 R. Knox Hist. Ceylon 94 Before they can settle themselves to their contentation. 1709 Strype Ann. Ref. I. xlvii. 514 To further it, to her contentation and honour. |
3. Contented or satisfied condition. arch.
| a 1533 Ld. Berners Gold. Bk. M. Aurel. (1546) E v, Than holde you sure of my contentacion. 1555 Eden Decades 100 Their contentation with the benefytes of nature. 1598 R. Grenewey Tacitus' Ann. xii. x. (1622) 170 In his company hee spent his idle time with delight and contentation. 1667 Waterhouse Fire Lond. 159 The resignation of an Empire, and the contentation with a private life. 1709 Strype Ann. Ref. I. xl. 453 So as nothing wanted to show contentation. 1833 Fraser's Mag. VIII. 700 To profess his contentation at the great éclat he had attained. 1860 A. Manning Ladies Bever Hollow viii. (1882) 69 He stood..surveying him with no small contentation. |
† b. as a habitual quality or frame of mind: Contentment. Obs.
| 1553 Elyot Gov. iii. xvii, His contentation [ed. 1531 continence] in pouertie. a 1593 H. Smith Serm. 1 Tim. vi. 6 (1867) II. 279 Such a commander is contentation, that wheresoever she setteth foot, an hundred blessings wait upon her. 1677 Hale Contempl. ii. 14 Religion, Temperance, Patience, and Contentation, are those Virtues that advantage the party himself. |
† 4. A source of satisfaction or pleasure. Obs.
| 1569 Newton Cicero's Old Age 33 A good fyer, is unto me a singuler contentacion. 1585 Parsons Chr. Exerc. i. x. 140 Among all other ioyes and contentations, this shal not be the least. 1672 Sir T. Browne Let. Friend xxiv, We are fain to take in the reputed contentations of this world. 1682 ― Chr. Mor. 46 Temperate minds..enjoy their contentations contentedly. |
† 5. Satisfaction of a claim; compensation; payment in satisfaction. Obs.
| 1467 in Eng. Gilds (1870) 403 The contentacyon of sommes so forfett. 1474 Bond of Edw. IV in Rymer Fœdera (1710) XI. 792 Whereof he never as yet had any Paiement or Contentacion. 1540 Act 32 Hen. VIII, c. 5 title, An acte for contentacion of debts vpon executions. 1652 Z. Boyd in Zion's Flowers (1855) App. 24/2 In full contentatioune to hir of the lyk sowme of hir tocher. |
† b. The making of satisfaction for sin. Obs.
| 1535 Goodly Primer To Rdr., Jesus Christ, the onely sufficient price, satisfaction, reconsiliation, full contentation..for our synnes. 1548 Gest Pr. Masse 89 Yf Christe were to be agayne sacryfyced to the ful contentacion and cleansing of synne. 1656 O. Sedgwick Humbled Sinner iii. §1. 16 To..fulfil it even to appeasment and contentation. |
† 6. The satisfying of the conscience, of the moral or rational faculty; the allaying of scruple or doubt.
| 1533 More Apol. viii. Wks. 861/2 Then hathe he neede for hys contentacion to see the matter handeled somewhat more at lengthe. 1552 Latimer Serm. & Rem. (1845) 13 To their contentation and quieting of their consciences. 1555 Harpsfield in Bonner Homilies 46* For your better contentation herein you shal here the authorities of the Aunciente fathers. 1645 E. Pagitt Heresiogr. (1661) 53 For the contentation of your request. |
¶ Sometimes erroneously for contention.
| 1633 T. Adams Serm. Dan. xii. 3 There is no weake contentation betweene these, and the labour is hard to reconcile them. |