GNU Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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1.       
   Contain (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Contained (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Containing.] [OE. contenen, conteinen, F. contenir, fr. L. continere, -tentum; con- + tenere to hold. See Tenable, and cf. Countenance.]
   1. To hold within fixed limits; to comprise; to include; to inclose; to hold.
   
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   Behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens can not contain thee; how much less this house! 2 Chron. vi. 18.
   
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   When that this body did contain a spirit. Shak.
   
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   What thy stores contain bring forth. Milton.
   
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   2. To have capacity for; to be able to hold; to hold; to be equivalent to; as, “a bushel contains four pecks”.
   
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   3. To put constraint upon; to restrain; to confine; to keep within bounds. [Obs., exept as used reflexively.]
   
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   The king's person contains the unruly people from evil occasions. Spenser.
   
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   Fear not, my lord: we can contain ourselves. Shak.
   
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