incontinent

[ in-kon-tn-uhnt ]

adjective

1. unable to restrain natural discharges or evacuations of urine or feces.
2. unable to contain or retain (usually followed by of ):

   incontinent of temper.

3. lacking in moderation or self-control, especially of sexual desire.
4. unceasing or unrestrained:

   an incontinent flow of talk.

incontinent

¹

/ ɪnˈkɒntɪnənt /

adverb

1. obsolete words for immediately

incontinent

²

/ ɪnˈkɒntɪnənt /

adjective

1. lacking in restraint or control, esp sexually
2. relating to or exhibiting involuntary urination or defecation
3. foll by of having little or no control (over)
4. unrestrained; uncontrolled

Derived Forms

• inˈcontinence, noun
• inˈcontinently, adverb

Other Words From

• in·conti·nence in·conti·nen·cy noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of incontinent¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Latin incontinent- (stem of incontinēns ); in- ³, continent (adjective)

Word History and Origins

Origin of incontinent¹

C15: from Late Latin in continentī tempore, literally: in continuous time, that is, with no interval

Origin of incontinent²

C14: from Old French, from Latin incontinens, from in- ¹+ continere to hold, restrain

Example Sentences

Normally, this would be a personal matter, but America really needs to know if Trump is incontinent.

From Salon

As a rule, most of them don't act like an emotionally incontinent psychopath like their Dear Leader.

From Salon

The violent encounter left him incontinent after two operations.

From New York Times

After he teed off in 2003 on the Fox teenage drama “The O.C.” as a “moody, moon-faced trifle,” the show fired back with a hospital scene featuring a patient named Tom Shales, who is incontinent.

From New York Times

Sam Hindle experienced bladder prolapse after the birth of her son 24 years ago and has been incontinent ever since.

From BBC