Emily Dickinson Lexicon

CON-TIN'U-ANCE, n. [See Continue.]

1. A holding on or remaining in a particular state, or in a course or series. Applied to time, duration; a state of lasting; as, the continuance of rain or fair weather for a day or a week. Sensual pleasure is of short continuance.
2. Perseverance; as, no excuse will justify a continuance in sin. By patient continuance in well doing. Rom. ii.
3. Abode; residence; as, during our continuance in Paris.
4. Succession uninterrupted; continuation; a prolonging of existence; as, the brute regards the continuance of his species. – Addison.
5. Progression of time. In thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned. Ps. cxxxix.
6. In law, the deferring of a suit, or the giving of a day for the parties to a suit to appear. After issue or demurrer joined, as well as in some of the previous stages of proceeding, a day is continually given, and entered upon record, for the parties to appear on from time to time. The giving of this day is called a continuance. – Blackstone.
7. In the United States, the deferring of a trial or suit from one stated term of the court to another.
8. Continuity; resistance to a separation of parts; a holding together. [Little used.] – Bacon.