Contents

con·tent ¹  (kntnt)

n.

1. Something contained, as in a receptacle. Often used in the plural: the contents of my desk drawer; the contents of an aerosol can.

2.

a. The individual items or topics that are dealt with in a publication or document. Often used in the plural: a table of contents.

b. The material, including text and images, that constitutes a publication or document.

3.

a. The substantive or meaningful part: "The brain is hungry not for method but for content, especially content which contains generalizations that are powerful, precise, and explicit" (Frederick Turner).

b. The meaning or significance of a literary or artistic work.

4. The proportion of a specified substance: Eggs have a high protein content.

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[Middle English, from Medieval Latin contentum, neuter past participle of Latin continre, to contain; see contain.]

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con·tent ²  (kn-tnt)

adj.

1. Desiring no more than what one has; satisfied.

2. Ready to accept or acquiesce; willing: She was content to step down after four years as chief executive.

tr.v. con·tent·ed, con·tent·ing, con·tents

To make content or satisfied: contented himself with one piece of cake.

n.

Contentment; satisfaction.

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[Middle English, from Old French, from Latin contentus, past participle of continre, to restrain; see contain.]

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

contents - a list of divisions (chapters or articles) and the pages on which they start table of contents list, listing - a database containing an ordered array of items (names or topics) publication - a copy of a printed work offered for distribution table, tabular array - a set of data arranged in rows and columns; "see table 1"