English
continue
Continue comes from Middle English continuen, from Old French continuer, from Latin continuō, from continuus ‘continuous’, ultimately from teneō ‘to hold’.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*ten-‘to stretch’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*tn̥eh₁yétireconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*tenēō‘to hold’reconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEteneō‘to hold’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEcontineō‘to hold together’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEcontinuus‘continuous’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEcontinuō‘to join, continue’
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400continuer
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500continuen
- Englishearliest quotation 1611continue
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*ten-‘to stretch’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*tn̥eh₁yétireconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*tenēō‘to hold’reconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEteneō‘to hold’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEcontineō‘to hold together’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEcontinuus‘continuous’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEcontinuō‘to join, continue’
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400continuer
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500continuen
- Englishearliest quotation 1611continue
Earliest quotation: 1611, The Holy Bible, London: […] Robert Barker: “They continue with me now three days, and have…”
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *ten- ‘to stretch, extend’
tight, entertainment, tune, maintenance, tone, obtain, tender, ton, tonic, tendon, tenacious, pristine, pertinent, tetanus, countenance, tantra, tendinitis, maintainer, hypotenuse, retentive, 67 more
through Proto-Italic *tenēō ‘to hold’
through Latin teneō ‘to hold, have’
content, tennis, retain, contain, sustain, tenant, detention, tenor, retention, rein, tenacity, detain, tenet, sustenance, abstain, abstinence, pertain, tenement, tenable, incontinence, abstention, retinue, abstinent, incontinent, 24 more
through Latin continuō
Today it means
verb To proceed with (doing an activity); to prolong (an activity).
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *ten- / continue