Contain

Con*tain", v. i. To restrain desire; to live in continence or chastity.

But if they can not contain, let them marry.
1 Cor. vii. 9.

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.

Behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens can not contain thee; how much less this house!
2 Chron. vi. 18.

When that this body did contain a spirit.
Shak.

What thy stores contain bring forth.
Milton.

2. To have capacity for; to be able to hold; to hold; to be equivalent to; as, a bushel contains four pecks.

3. To put constraint upon; to restrain; to confine; to keep within bounds. [Obs., exept as used reflexively.]

The king's person contains the unruly people from evil occasions.
Spenser.

Fear not, my lord: we can contain ourselves.
Shak.