Emily Dickinson Lexicon

CON'TI-NENT, n.

1. In geography, a great extent of land, not disjoined or interrupted by a sea; a connected tract of land of great extent; as, the Eastern and Western continent. It differs from an isle only in extent. New Holland may be denominated a continent. Britain is called a continent, as opposed to the Isle of Anglesey. – Henry, Hist. Brit. i. 34. In Spenser, continent is used for ground in general.
2. That which contains any thing. [Not used.] – Shak.