Etymology
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content (v.)

15世纪初, “安于或满足; 给予满足”, 来自古法语 contenter (来自 content (adj.) “满足” )和中世纪拉丁语 contentare, 都来自拉丁语 contentus “包含; 满足”, continere 的过去分词“合拢, 包围”, 来自 com “与, 一起” 的同化形式(见 con-) + tenere “持有” (来自PIE根 *ten- “伸展” ).

“包含” 和“满足” 的意义联系大概是:满足者的欲望被他或她已经拥有的东西所束缚. 相关链接: Contented; contenting.

content (adj.)

15世纪, 字面意思是“在限定范围内持有或包含”, 因此“将欲望限制在目前的享受范围内”, 来自古法语 content, “满意”, 来自拉丁语 contentus “包含, 满意”, continere 的过去分词“一起持有, 包围”, 来自 com “一起, 一起” (见 con-) + tenere “持有” (来自PIE根 *ten- “伸展” )的同化形式. 相关链接: Contently (基本被 contentedly 取代).

content (n.1)

“对目前环境感到满意而产生的心境”, 1570年代, 出自 content (副词). 短语 heart's content, 出自1590年代(莎士比亚).

content (n.2)

“所包含的东西;” 见 contents.

Entries linking to content

contents (n.)

"things contained, that which is contained" in something (the stomach, a document, etc.), early 15c., from Latin contentum (plural contenta), noun use of neuter past participle in the literal sense of continere "to hold together, enclose," from assimilated form of com "with, together" (see con-) + tenere "to hold" (from PIE root *ten- "to stretch"). Table of contents is from late 15c.

con- 

word-forming element meaning "together, with," sometimes merely intensive; it is the form of com- used in Latin before consonants except -b-, -p-, -l-, -m-, or -r-. In native English formations (such as costar), co- tends to be used where Latin would use con-.

updated on March 14, 2018

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Definitions of content from WordNet
1
content (n.)
(usually plural) everything that is included in a collection and that is held or included in something;
he emptied the contents of his pockets
the two groups were similar in content
Synonyms: contents
content (n.)
what a communication that is about something is about;
Synonyms: message / subject matter / substance
content (n.)
the proportion of a substance that is contained in a mixture or alloy etc.;
content (n.)
the amount that can be contained;
Synonyms: capacity
content (n.)
the sum or range of what has been perceived, discovered, or learned;
Synonyms: cognitive content / mental object
content (n.)
the state of being contented with your situation in life;
they could read to their heart's content
Synonyms: contentedness
content (n.)
something (a person or object or scene) selected by an artist or photographer for graphic representation;
Synonyms: subject / depicted object
2
content (v.)
satisfy in a limited way;
He contented himself with one glass of beer per day
content (v.)
make content;
I am contented
3
content (adj.)
satisfied or showing satisfaction with things as they are;
a contented smile
Synonyms: contented
From wordnet.princeton.edu, not affiliated with etymonline.

Dictionary entries near content

contempt

contemptible

contemptuous

contend

contender

content

contented

contention

contentious

contentment

contents

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