different between continual vs unbroken

English

Alternative forms

• continuall (obsolete)

Etymology

From Middle English continuel, from Old French continuel, formed from Latin continuus (“continuous”) with the suffix -el.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /k?n?t?nju?l/, /k?n?t?nj?l/
• Hyphenation: con?tin?u?al, con?tin?ual

Adjective

continual (not comparable)

1. Recurring in steady, rapid succession.
2. (proscribed) Seemingly continuous; appearing to have no end or interruption.
3. (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 Dungeons & Dragons.

Related terms

• continuance
• continuation
• continue
• continuous
• continuum

Translations

References

Further reading

• continual in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• continual in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.

Anagrams

• inoculant

English

Pronunciation

• (General American) IPA^(key): /?n?b?o?kn?/
• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /?n?b???kn?/
• Hyphenation: un?bro?ken

Etymology 1

From Middle English unbroken, from Old English un?ebrocen (“unbroken”), equivalent to un- +? broken. Cognate with Dutch ongebroken (“unbroken”), German Low German unbroken (“unbroken”), German ungebrochen (“unbroken”).

Adjective

unbroken (not comparable)

1. Whole, not divided into parts.

   After the vase had fallen down the flight of stairs we were amazed to find it still unbroken.

2. Of a horse, not tamed.

   There is something majestic about the spirit of an unbroken mustang as it runs wild across the prairie.

3. Continuous, without interruption.

   The team's unbroken winning streak was a record.

Synonyms

• (whole, not divided into parts): complete, entire, in one piece, undivided, whole
• (describing a horse): untamed, wild
• (continuous): continuous, uninterrupted

Antonyms

• (whole): broken, shattered, smashed, split
• (describing a horse): domesticated, tame, tamed
• (continuous): broken, interrupted

Translations

Etymology 2

From unbreak.

Verb

unbroken

1. past participle of unbreak