continual
Use Continual in a sentence
yu adjective
1.
of regular or frequent recurrence; often repeated; very frequent: continual bus departures.
2.
happening without interruption or cessation; continuous in time.
Origin:
1300–50; < Medieval Latin continuālis, equivalent to Latin continu(us) continuous + -ālis -al1; replacing Middle English continuel < Middle French < Latin, as above
1300–50; < Medieval Latin continuālis, equivalent to Latin continu(us) continuous + -ālis -al1; replacing Middle English continuel < Middle French < Latin, as above
Related forms
con·tin·u·al·i·ty, con·tin·u·al·ness, noun
qua·si-con·tin·u·al, adjective
qua·si-con·tin·u·al·ly, adverb
un·con·tin·u·al, adjective
un·con·tin·u·al·ly, adverb
Synonyms
1. successive, recurrent, repetitive, repetitious. 2. unceasing, ceaseless, incessant, uninterrupted, unremitting, unbroken, permanent, unending.
1. successive, recurrent, repetitive, repetitious. 2. unceasing, ceaseless, incessant, uninterrupted, unremitting, unbroken, permanent, unending.
Usage note
Although usage guides generally advise that continual may be used only to mean “intermittent” and continuous only to mean “uninterrupted,” the words are used interchangeably in all kinds of speech and writing with no distinction in meaning: The President's life is under continual (or continuous) scrutiny. Continuous (or continual) bursts of laughter punctuated her testimony. The adverbs continually and continuously are also used interchangeably. To make a clear distinction between what occurs at short intervals and what proceeds without interruption, writers sometimes use the contrasting terms intermittent (intermittent losses of power during the storm) and uninterrupted (uninterrupted reception during the storm) or similar expressions. Continuous is not interchangeable with continual in the sense of spatial relationship: a continuous (not continual) series of passages.
Although usage guides generally advise that continual may be used only to mean “intermittent” and continuous only to mean “uninterrupted,” the words are used interchangeably in all kinds of speech and writing with no distinction in meaning: The President's life is under continual (or continuous) scrutiny. Continuous (or continual) bursts of laughter punctuated her testimony. The adverbs continually and continuously are also used interchangeably. To make a clear distinction between what occurs at short intervals and what proceeds without interruption, writers sometimes use the contrasting terms intermittent (intermittent losses of power during the storm) and uninterrupted (uninterrupted reception during the storm) or similar expressions. Continuous is not interchangeable with continual in the sense of spatial relationship: a continuous (not continual) series of passages.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source
|
Link To continual
00:10
Continual
is always a great word to know.
So is quincunx. Does it mean:
| a chattering or flighty, light-headed person. |
| an arrangement of five objects, as trees, in a square or rectangle, one at each corner and one in the middle. |
Collins
World English Dictionary
continual (kənˈtɪnjʊəl) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —adj | |
| 1. | recurring frequently, esp at regular intervals |
| 2. | occurring without interruption; continuous in time |
| [C14: from Old French continuel, from Latin continuus uninterrupted, from continēre to hold together, | |
| continu'ality | |
| —n | |
| con'tinualness | |
| —n | |
| con'tinually | |
| —adv | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Etymonline
Word Origin & History
continual
mid-14c., continuell, from O.Fr. continuel (12c.), from L. continuus (see continue). That which is continual is that which is either always going on or recurs at short intervals and never comes to an end; that which is continuous is that
in which there is no break between the beginning and the end. Related: Continually (c.1300, contynuelliche).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
Cite This Source
Example sentences
The continual pounding of the waves can cause the top of the arch to fall, leaving nothing but rock columns.
Its continual reinforcement of a certain view within a fairly close profession.
Continual absence or tardiness jeopardizes the ability of an employee to complete important tasks.
The continual desire to increase the size of heavy ordnance has become on the part of many nations little else than a mania.
Nearby Words
Copyright © 2013 Dictionary.com, LLC. All rights reserved.
