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Spinster vs Continent - What's the difference?

spinster | continent | Related terms |

In obsolete terms the difference between spinster and continent

is that spinster is a woman of evil life and character; so called from being forced to spin in a house of correction while continent is the Old World.

As nouns the difference between spinster and continent

is that spinster is a woman who has never been married, especially one past the typical marrying age according to social traditions while continent is land (as opposed to the water).

As an adjective continent is

exercising self-restraint; controlled, temperate with respect to one's bodily needs or passions, especially sex.

As a proper noun Continent is

the Old World.

spinster

English

(wikipedia spinster)

Noun

(en noun)
  • A woman who has never been married, especially one past the typical marrying age according to social traditions.
  • * Coke
    • If a gentlewoman be termed a spinster , she may abate the writ.
  • One who spins (puts a spin on) a political media story so as to give something a favorable or advantageous appearance; a spin doctor, spin merchant or spin master.
  • (obsolete) Someone whose occupation was spinning thread.
  • * ~1601 , William Shakespeare, Twelfth Night , act II, scene IV:
    • The spinsters and the knitters in the sun.
  • (obsolete) A woman of evil life and character; so called from being forced to spin in a house of correction.
  • (rare) A spider; an insect (such as a silkworm) which spins thread.
    • (Webster 1913)

    Synonyms

    * old maid

    See also

    * bachelor * widow * divorcee ----

    continent

    English

    (wikipedia continent)

    Etymology 1

    From (etyl) .

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (obsolete) Land (as opposed to the water).
  • * 1590 , Edmund Spenser, The Faerie Queene , III.v:
    • The carkas with the streame was carried downe, / But th'head fell backeward on the continent .
  • A large contiguous landmass considered independent of its islands, peninsulas etc. Specifically, the Old World continent of Europe–Asia–Africa. See the Continent.
  • Each of the main continuous land-masses on the earth's surface, now generally regarded as seven in number, including their related islands, continental shelves etc.
    • Derived terms
    * the Continent * continental * supercontinent
    See also
    *
    Hyponyms
    * Africa * America * Antarctica * Asia * Australia * Europe * Eurasia * Gondwana * Laurasia * North America * Oceania * Pangaea * South America

    Etymology 2

    From (etyl) continent, from (etyl) .

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Exercising self-restraint; controlled, temperate with respect to one's bodily needs or passions, especially sex.
  • * Shakespeare
    • Have a continent forbearance till the speed of his rage goes slower.
  • * 2009 , (Diarmaid MacCulloch), A History of Christianity , Penguin 2010, p. 119:
    • A celibate himself, he was of the opinion that marriage was something of a concession to human frailty, to save from fornication those who could not be continent , so it was better to marry than to burn with lust.
  • Not interrupted; connected; continuous.
    • a continent fever
  • * Berrewood
    • The northeast part of Asia is, if not continent with the west side of America, yet certainly it is the least disjoined by sea of all that coast.
  • (obsolete) Serving to restrain or limit; restraining; opposing.
    • (Shakespeare)
    Antonyms
    * incontinent