continent sb. (3 Milton speaks of ‘the moist continent’ of the moon, prob. imitating S.)
1.
something that holds or contains: (i) cover,
enclosure, receptacle
Ham. IV. iv. 64
“tomb enough and To hide
the slain,”
Lr. III. ii. 58, Ant. IV. xii. [xiv.] 40 “Heart,
once be stronger than thy ”; (ii) bounding
or enclosing land
MND. II. i. 92
“have overborne their
c-s,”
1H4 III. i. 111
“the opposed ”
2.
earth, ‘terra
firma’ 2H4 III. i.
47.
3.
‘solid
globe’ or orb of the sun Tw.N. V. i. 281*.
4.
summary, sum
LLL. IV. i. 112
“my of
beauty,”
Mer.V. III. ii. 130
“The and summary of my
fortune,”
Ham. V. ii. 116.
