continuous
UK[kənˈtɪn.ju.əs]US[kənˈtɪn.ju.əs]
adj
Forming an unbroken whole or sequence without interruption.
adj
(of a function) of which the graph is a smooth unbroken curve, having no gaps or discontinuities.
Morpheme Breakdown
con
tinu
ous
con
together
tinu
hold
ous
adjective suffix
Etymology
The word "continuous" entered English in the mid-17th century from the Latin continuus, meaning "uninterrupted, unbroken," which itself derives from the verb continēre ("to hold together, connect"). Continēre is a compound of the prefix con- ("together") and the verb tenēre ("to hold"). The core semantic logic is of things being held together so tightly that no gap or break appears. This literal sense of physical connection evolved into the modern abstract meaning, describing any unbroken sequence, extension, or process, whether in time, space, or mathematics.
Analysis
Structure: con (together) + tinu (hold) + ous (adjective suffix)
- con: Latin origin, a prefix meaning "together, with".
- tinu: Latin origin, from the root of the verb tenēre, meaning "to hold".
- ous: Latin origin, an adjectival suffix meaning "full of, characterized by".
Examples
The continuous hum of the refrigerator was the only sound in the house.
The road follows a continuous line along the coast for fifty miles.
For the experiment to be valid, the data feed must be continuous.