CONTINENCE, CONTINENCY, n. [L., to hold, or withhold; con and teneo, to hold. See Tenet.] 1. In a general sense, the restraint which a person imposes upon his desires and passions; self-command.2. Appropriately, the restraint of the passion for sexual enjoyment; resistance of concupiscence; forbearance of lewd pleasures; hence, chastity. But the term is usually applied to males, as chastity is to females. Scipio the younger exhibited the nobles example of continence recorded in Pagan history; an example surpassed only by that of Joseph in sacred history.3. Forbearance of lawful pleasure.Content without lawful venery, is continence; without unlawful, is chastity.4. Moderation in the indulgence of sexual enjoyment.Chastity is either abstinence or continence; abstinence is that of virgins or widows; continence, that of married persons.5. Continuity; uninterrupted course. [Not now used.]
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