Emily Dickinson Lexicon

CON'TI-NENCE, or CON'TI-NEN-CY, n. [L. continentia, from contineo, to hold, or withhold; con and teneo, to hold. See Tenet.]

1. In a general sense, the restraint which a person imposes upon his desires and passions; self-command.
2. Appropriately, the restraint of the passion for sexual enjoyment; resistance of concupiscence; forbearance of lewd pleasures: hence, chastity. But the term is usually applied to males, as chastity is to females. Scipio the younger exhibited the noblest example of continence recorded in Pagan history; an example surpassed only by that of Joseph in sacred history.
3. Forbearance of lawful pleasure. Content without lawful venery, is continence; without unlawful, is chastity. – Grew.
4. Moderation in the indulgence of sexual enjoyment. Chastity is either abstinence or continence: abstinence is that of virgins or widows; continence, that of married persons. – Taylor.
5. Continuity; uninterrupted course. [Not amused.] – Ayliffe.