from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Contain \Con*tain"\, 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.
[1913 Webster]
Behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens can not
contain thee; how much less this house! --2 Chron.
vi. 18.
[1913 Webster]
When that this body did contain a spirit. --Shak.
[1913 Webster]
What thy stores contain bring forth. --Milton.
[1913 Webster]
2. To have capacity for; to be able to hold; to hold; to be
equivalent to; as, a bushel contains four pecks.
[1913 Webster]
3. To put constraint upon; to restrain; to confine; to keep
within bounds. [Obs., exept as used reflexively.]
[1913 Webster]
The king's person contains the unruly people from
evil occasions. --Spenser.
[1913 Webster]
Fear not, my lord: we can contain ourselves. --Shak.
[1913 Webster]