contain verb Etymology: Middle English conteinen, from Anglo-French cunteign-, cuntyen-, stem of cuntenir, from Latin continēre to hold together, hold in, contain, from com- + tenēre to hold — more at thin Date: 14th century transitive verb 1. to keep within limits: as a. restrain, control <could hardly contain her enthusiasm> b. check, halt <contain the spread of a deadly disease> c. to follow successfully a policy of containment toward <efforts to contain Communism> d. to prevent (as an enemy or opponent) from advancing or from making a successful attack 2. a. to have within ; hold b. comprise, include <the bill contains several new clauses> 3. a. to be divisible by usually without a remainder b. enclose, bound intransitive verb to restrain oneself • containable adjective Synonyms: contain, hold, accommodate mean to have or be capable of having within. contain implies the actual presence of a specified substance or quantity within something <the can contains a quart of oil>. hold implies the capacity of containing or the usual or permanent function of containing or keeping <the bookcase will hold all my textbooks>. accommodate stresses holding without crowding or inconvenience <the hall can accommodate 500 people>.

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