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Empathy vs. Sympathy

content1

[kon-tent] /ˈkɒn tɛnt/
noun
1.
Usually, contents.
  1. something that is contained:
    the contents of a box.
  2. the subjects or topics covered in a book or document.
  3. the chapters or other formal divisions of a book or document:
    a table of contents.
2.
something that is to be expressed through some medium, as speech, writing, or any of various arts:
a poetic form adequate to a poetic content.
3.
significance or profundity; meaning:
a clever play that lacks content.
4.
substantive information or creative material viewed in contrast to its actual or potential manner of presentation:
publishers, record companies, and other content providers; a flashy website, but without much content.
5.
that which may be perceived in something:
the latent versus the manifest content of a dream.
6.
Philosophy, Logic. the sum of the attributes or notions comprised in a given conception; the substance or matter of cognition.
7.
power of containing; holding capacity:
The bowl's content is three quarts.
8.
volume, area, or extent; size.
9.
the amount contained.
10.
Linguistics. the system of meanings or semantic values specific to a language (opposed to expression).
11.
  1. Mathematics. the greatest common divisor of all the coefficients of a given polynomial.
  2. any abstraction of the concept of length, area, or volume.
Origin of content1
late Middle English
1375-1425
1375-1425; late Middle English (< Anglo-French) < Medieval Latin contentum, noun use of neuter of Latin contentus (past participle of continēre to contain), equivalent to con- con- + ten- hold + -tus past participle suffix

content2

[kuh n-tent] /kənˈtɛnt/
adjective
1.
satisfied with what one is or has; not wanting more or anything else.
2.
British. agreeing; assenting.
3.
Archaic. willing.
verb (used with object)
4.
to make content:
These things content me.
noun
5.
the state or feeling of being contented; satisfaction; contentment:
His content was threatened.
6.
(in the British House of Lords) an affirmative vote or voter.
Origin
1400-50; late Middle English < Middle French < Latin contentus satisfied, special use of past participle of continēre; see content1
Related forms
contentable, adjective
contently, adverb
contentness, noun
Synonyms
4. appease, gratify. See satisfy.
Antonyms
4. dissatisfy.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2016.
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Examples from the Web for content
Contemporary Examples
Historical Examples
  • No student of missions can ever be content to regard them as an ideal arrangement.

    Changing China William Gascoyne-Cecil
  • The good man may be weak, be indolent; Nor is his claim to plenty, but content.

    Essay on Man Alexander Pope
  • Thus she revenged herself on them both to her heart's content.

    A Terrible Temptation Charles Reade
  • There is scarce any wood; but all classes are content with dung for fuel.

  • He told me I must not think that people would be content to sit still and do nothing.

    Farthest North Fridtjof Nansen
British Dictionary definitions for content

content1

/ˈkɒntɛnt/
noun
1.
(often pl) everything that is inside a container: the contents of a box
2.
(usually pl)
  1. the chapters or divisions of a book
  2. a list, printed at the front of a book, of chapters or divisions together with the number of the first page of each
3.
the meaning or significance of a poem, painting, or other work of art, as distinguished from its style or form
4.
all that is contained or dealt with in a discussion, piece of writing, etc; substance
5.
the capacity or size of a thing
6.
the proportion of a substance contained in an alloy, mixture, etc: the lead content of petrol
Word Origin
C15: from Latin contentus contained, from continēre to contain

content2

/kənˈtɛnt/
adjective (postpositive)
1.
mentally or emotionally satisfied with things as they are
2.
assenting to or willing to accept circumstances, a proposed course of action, etc
verb
3.
(transitive) to make (oneself or another person) content or satisfied: to content oneself with property
noun
4.
peace of mind; mental or emotional satisfaction
interjection
5.
(Brit) (in the House of Lords) a formal expression of assent, as opposed to the expression not content
Derived Forms
contently, adverb
contentment, noun
Word Origin
C14: from Old French, from Latin contentus contented, that is, having restrained desires, from continēre to restrain
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Word Origin and History for content
v.

early 15c., from Middle French contenter, from content (adj.) "satisfied," from Latin contentus "contained, satisfied," past participle of continere (see contain). Sense evolved through "contained," "restrained," to "satisfied," as the contented person's desires are bound by what he or she already has. Related: Contented; contentedly.

adj.

c.1400, from Old French content, "satisfied," from Latin contentus "contained, satisfied," past participle of continere (see contain). Related: Contently (largely superseded by contentedly).

n.

"that which is contained," early 15c., from Latin contentum, contenta, noun use of past participle of continere (see contain). Meaning "satisfaction" is from 1570s; heart's content is from 1590s (Shakespeare).

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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content in Medicine

content con·tent (kŏn'těnt')
n.

  1. Something contained, as in a receptacle.

  2. The proportion of a specified substance present in something else, as of protein in a food.

  3. The subject matter or essential meaning of something, especially a dream.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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Idioms and Phrases with content
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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