continence

Dated from the 14th century; borrowed from Old French continence, from Latin continentia (“a repression”). See also countenance.

continence (usually uncountable, plural continences)

1. (urology) The voluntary control of urination and defecation.
2. Moderation or self-restraint, especially in sexual activity; abstinence.
   • For quotations of use of this term, see Citations:continence.
   • Dryden

     He knew what to say; he knew also, when to leave off, — a continence which is practiced by few writers.

   • Jeremy Taylor

     Chastity is either abstinence or continence: abstinence is that of virgins or widows; continence, that of married persons.

3. Uninterrupted course; continuity.

   (Can we find and add a quotation of Ayliffe to this entry?)

• (moderation or self-restraint): asceticism, temperance
• (uninterrupted course): See also Thesaurus:continuity

• (all): incontinence
• (moderation or self-restraint): acrasia, acrasy, intemperance
• (uninterrupted course): See also Thesaurus:discontinuity

• continent
• incontinent
• contain

• “continence” in Douglas Harper, Online Etymology Dictionary, 2001–2019.