different between incontinence vs incontinent

English

Etymology

Borrowed from Old French incontinence, from Latin incontinentia.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /?n?k?nt?n?ns/

Noun

incontinence (countable and uncountable, plural incontinences)

1. (dated) Lack of self-restraint, an inability to control oneself; unchastity.
   • 1749, Henry Fielding, Tom Jones, Folio Society 1973, p. 119:

     Allworthy was sufficiently offended by this transgression of Jones; for notwithstanding the assertions of Mr Western, it is certain this worthy man had never indulged himself in any loose pleasures with women, and greatly condemned the vice of incontinence in others.

2. (urology) The inability of any of the physical organs to restrain discharges of their contents; involuntary discharge or evacuation (of urine or feces).

Synonyms

• (lack of self-restraint): acrasia, incontinency

Antonyms

• continence

Derived terms

• incontinence diaper
• incontinence pad
• stress incontinence

Related terms

Translations

References

• incontinence in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.
• Douglas Harper (2001–2021) , “incontinence”, in Online Etymology Dictionary

English

Etymology

Borrowed from Old French incontinent, from Latin incontinens, from in + continens.

Adjective

incontinent (comparative more incontinent, superlative most incontinent)

1. (often followed by of) Unable to contain or retain.
2. Plagued by incontinence; lacking the ability to restrain natural discharges or evacuations of urination or defecation.
3. Lacking moral or sexual restraint, moderation or self-control, especially of sexual desire.
4. Unrestrained or unceasing.

5. (colloquial) Immediate; without delay.

Antonyms

• continent
• restrained

Derived terms

• incontinent ordinance

Related terms

Translations

Adverb

incontinent (not comparable)

1. (obsolete) Immediately, forthwith.
   • c. 1604, William Shakespeare, Othello, Act IV, Scene 3,^[1]

     He says he will return incontinent:

Noun

incontinent (plural incontinents)

1. (obsolete) One who is unchaste.

   • O, old Incontinent, dost not thou shame

Dutch

Etymology

Borrowed from French incontinent, from New Latin incontinens. Equivalent to in- +? continent.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /???.k?n.ti?n?nt/
• Hyphenation: in?con?ti?nent
• Rhymes: -?nt

Adjective

incontinent (not comparable)

1. incontinent (unable to restrain natural discharges)

   Antonym: continent

Inflection

Related terms

• incontinentie

French

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /??.k??.ti.n??/

Etymology 1

From Middle French incontinent, borrowed from Latin incontinens, incontinentem, from in + continens.

Adjective

incontinent (feminine singular incontinente, masculine plural incontinents, feminine plural incontinentes)

1. (medicine) incontinent, suffering from incontinence, enuretic

Etymology 2

Borrowed from Latin in continenti.

Adverb

incontinent

1. (now literary) forthwith, at once

Further reading

• “incontinent” in Trésor de la langue française informatisé (The Digitized Treasury of the French Language).

Middle French

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin incontinens, incontinentem, from in + continens.

Adjective

incontinent m (feminine singular incontinente, masculine plural incontinens, feminine plural incontinentes)

1. incontinent (lacking restraint)

Adverb

incontinent

1. immediately; straight away; right away

Antonyms

• continent

Descendants

• French: incontinent

Romanian

Etymology

From French incontinent.

Adjective

incontinent m or n (feminine singular incontinent?, masculine plural incontinen?i, feminine and neuter plural incontinente)

1. incontinent

Declension