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contents - 6 dictionary results

con⋅tent

1  [kon-tent]
Use contents in a Sentence
–noun
1. Usually, contents.
a. something that is contained: the contents of a box.
b. the subjects or topics covered in a book or document.
c. the chapters or other formal divisions of a book or document: a table of contents.
2. something that is to be expressed through some medium, as speech, writing, or any of various arts: a poetic form adequate to a poetic content.
3. significance or profundity; meaning: a clever play that lacks content.
4. substantive information or creative material viewed in contrast to its actual or potential manner of presentation: publishers, record companies, and other content providers; a flashy Web site, but without much content.
5. that which may be perceived in something: the latent versus the manifest content of a dream.
6. Philosophy, Logic. the sum of the attributes or notions comprised in a given conception; the substance or matter of cognition.
7. power of containing; holding capacity: The bowl's content is three quarts.
8. volume, area, or extent; size.
9. the amount contained.
10. Linguistics. the system of meanings or semantic values specific to a language (opposed to expression ).
11.
a. Mathematics. the greatest common divisor of all the coefficients of a given polynomial. Compare primitive polynomial.
b. any abstraction of the concept of length, area, or volume.
Origin:
1375–1425; late ME (< AF) < ML contentum, n. use of neut. of L contentus (ptp. of continēre to contain), equiv. to con- con- + ten- hold + -tus ptp. suffix

con⋅tent

2  [kuhn-tent]
–adjective
1. satisfied with what one is or has; not wanting more or anything else.
2. British. agreeing; assenting.
3. Archaic. willing.
–verb (used with object)
4. to make content: These things content me.
–noun
5. the state or feeling of being contented; contentment: His content was threatened.
6. (in the British House of Lords) an affirmative vote or voter.
Origin:
1400–50; late ME < MF < L contentus satisfied, special use of ptp. of continēre; see content 1

Related forms:
con⋅tent⋅a⋅ble, adjective
con⋅tent⋅ly, adverb
con⋅tent⋅ness, noun

Synonyms:
4. appease, gratify. See satisfy.

Antonyms:
4. dissatisfy.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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con·tent 1   (kŏn'těnt')   
n.  
  1. Something contained, as in a receptacle. Often used in the plural: the contents of my desk drawer; the contents of an aerosol can.
    1. The individual items or topics that are dealt with in a publication or document. Often used in the plural: a table of contents.
    2. The material, including text and images, that constitutes a publication or document.
    3. The substantive or meaningful part: "The brain is hungry not for method but for content, especially content which contains generalizations that are powerful, precise, and explicit" (Frederick Turner).
    4. The meaning or significance of a literary or artistic work.
    1. The substantive or meaningful part: "The brain is hungry not for method but for content, especially content which contains generalizations that are powerful, precise, and explicit" (Frederick Turner).
    2. The meaning or significance of a literary or artistic work.
  4. The proportion of a specified substance: Eggs have a high protein content.

[Middle English, from Medieval Latin contentum, neuter past participle of Latin continēre, to contain; see contain.]
con·tent 2   (kən-těnt')   
adj.  
  1. Desiring no more than what one has; satisfied.
  2. Ready to accept or acquiesce; willing: She was content to step down after four years as chief executive.
tr.v.   con·tent·ed, con·tent·ing, con·tents
To make content or satisfied: contented himself with one piece of cake.
n.  Contentment; satisfaction.

[Middle English, from Old French, from Latin contentus, past participle of continēre, to restrain; see contain.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Contents

Con*tents\ (? or ?; 277), n. pl. See Content, n.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Language Translation for : contents
Spanish: contenido,
German: der Inhalt,
Japanese: 中身
More Translations »

contents 
1526, from L. contentum (pl. contenta), neut. pp. of continere (see contain).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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