Contain

How to spell contain

7 letters · 2 syllables

How to pronounce contain

Say the part in capitals loudest.

What does contain mean?

1. verbTo have or hold something inside; to keep something within limits.

Contain in a sentence

• The box should contain all the spare cables.

• These tablets contain a small dose of caffeine.

Where does contain come from?

Language of origin: Latin

This word comes from the Latin continere, meaning 'to hold together' or 'to keep within bounds', formed from the prefix con- 'together' and the verb tenere 'to hold'. English took it in during the 1300s through the Old French contenir, which carried the same idea of keeping something inside. The -tain ending is the same one we see in 'retain', 'detain', and 'maintain', all of which share that tenere root for holding, so spotting the family helps you trust the spelling. The sense gradually broadened from simply enclosing a thing to also meaning restraining feelings or stopping something from spreading. Because the word is pronounced with a clear stress on the second syllable, the spelling rarely surprises adult writers.

How the word is built

• con- (together)
• -tain (from Latin tenere: to hold)