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.
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.
Hear it pronounced