## Meanings
1. To hold or have something inside.
2. To include something as a part.
3. To keep something harmful within limits and stop it from spreading.
4. To hold back or control a strong emotion.

## Examples
- The brown box contains three stacks of books.
- Most of the meals they offer contain meat.
- Medical workers worked hard to contain the outbreak.
- I'm so excited, I can hardly contain myself!

## Synonyms
- curb
- repress
- restrain
- restrict
- stifle

## Antonyms
- exclude
- omit
- release
- vent

## Derived Forms
- containee
- self-contain

## Related Forms
- containable
- container
- containment
- content
- continence

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: *ten-
- Root: contenir
- Root: continēre

## Etymology
From Middle English, borrowed from Old French contenir, from Latin continēre (“to hold or keep together, comprise, contain”), combined form of con- (“together”) + teneō (“to hold”).

## AI Etymology
contain is a verb. It is from Middle English, borrowed from Old French contenir, from Latin continēre (“to hold or keep together, comprise, contain”), combined form of con- (“together”) + teneō (“to hold”). Historical forms in the chain include *ten- (Proto-Indo-European), contenir (Old French), and continēre (Latin). Current senses include to hold or have something inside, to include something as a part, and to keep something harmful within limits and stop it from spreading. Derived forms include containee and self-contain. Related words include containable, container, containment, and content.

## Topics
- Space, Position & Direction
- Actions & Processes

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