Con*tain" (?), v. t. [imp.
& p. p. Contained (?); p. pr. & vb.
n. Containing.] [OE. contenen,
conteinen, F. contenir, fr. L. continere,
-tentum; con- + tenere to hold. See
Tenable, and cf. Countenance.] 1.
To hold within fixed limits; to comprise; to include; to
inclose; to hold.
Behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens can not
contain thee; how much less this house!
2 Chron. vi. 18.
When that this body did contain a
spirit.
Shak.
What thy stores contain bring forth.
Milton.
2. To have capacity for; to be able to
hold; to hold; to be equivalent to; as, a bushel contains
four pecks.
3. To put constraint upon; to restrain;
to confine; to keep within bounds. [Obs., exept as used
reflexively.]
The king's person contains the unruly
people from evil occasions.
Spenser.
Fear not, my lord: we can contain
ourselves.
Shak.
Con*tain", v. i. To restrain
desire; to live in continence or chastity.
But if they can not contain, let them
marry.
1 Cor. vii. 9.
