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incontinence (n.)
late 14c., "inability to restrain sexual desire, sexual immorality," later "inability to keep to a religious rule" (early 15c.), from Old French incontinence "lack of abstinence, unchastity" (12c.) or directly from Latin incontinentia "greediness; incontinence, inability to contain," abstract noun from incontinens "incontinent, immoderate, intemperate" (see incontinent). Meaning "inability to restrain bodily functions" is from 1754.
updated on November 07, 2015
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Dictionary entries near incontinence
inconstant
inconsumable
inconsummate
incontestable
incontiguous
incontinence
incontinency
incontinent
incontinently
incontrovertible
inconvenience