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Frequent vs Continual - What's the difference?

frequent | continual |

As adjectives the difference between frequent and continual

is that frequent is frequent; often while continual is recurring in steady, rapid succession.

frequent

English

Etymology 1

From (etyl) frequent, from (etyl) .Schwartzman, The Words of Mathematics: An Etymological Dictionary of Mathematical Terms Used in English

Adjective

  • Done or occurring often; common.
    • I take frequent breaks so I don't get too tired.
    There are frequent trains to the beach available.
    I am a frequent visitor to that city.
  • Occurring at short intervals.
  • * Byron
    • frequent feudal towers
  • Addicted to any course of conduct; inclined to indulge in any practice; habitual; persistent.
  • * Jonathan Swift
    • He has been loud and frequent in declaring himself hearty for the government.
  • (obsolete) Full; crowded; thronged.
  • * Ben Jonson
    • 'Tis Caesar's will to have a frequent senate.
  • (obsolete) Often or commonly reported.
  • * Massinger
    • 'Tis frequent in the city he hath subdued / The Catti and the Daci.
    Related terms
    * frequency * frequently * infrequent * frequently asked question (FAQ)

    Etymology 2

    From (etyl) frequenter, from (etyl)

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To visit often.
    • I used to frequent that restaurant.
    Derived terms
    * frequenter

    External links

    * * English heteronyms ----

    continual

    English

    Alternative forms

    * continuall (obsolete)

    Adjective

    (-)
  • Recurring in steady, rapid succession.
  • (proscribed) Seemingly continuous; appearing to have no end or interruption.
  • (proscribed) Forming a continuous series.

    • Usage notes

    In careful usage, continual refers to repeated'' actions “continual objections”, while continuous refers to ''uninterrupted'' actions or objects “continuous flow”, “played music continuously from dusk to dawn”. However, this distinction is not observed in informal usage, a noted example being the magic spell name “continual light” (unbroken light), in the game ''.

    Related terms

    * continuance * continuation * continue * continuous * continuum

    References

    External links

    * *

    Anagrams

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