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Webster 1913 Edition


Continental

Conˊti-nen′tal

,
Adj.
1.
Of or pertaining to a continent.
2.
Of or pertaining to the main land of Europe, in distinction from the adjacent islands, especially England;
as, a
continental
tour; a
continental
coalition
.
Macaulay.
No former king had involved himself so frequently in the labyrinth of
continental
alliances.
Hallam.
3.
(Amer. Hist.)
Of or pertaining to the confederated colonies collectively, in the time of the Revolutionary War;
as,
Continental
money
.
The army before Boston was designated as the
Continental
army, in contradistinction to that under General Gage, which was called the “Ministerial army.”
W. Irving.
Continental Congress
.
See under
Congress
.
–
Continental system
(Hist.)
,
the blockade of Great Britain ordered by Napoleon by the decree of Berlin, Nov. 21, 1806; the object being to strike a blow at the maritime and commercial supremacy of Great Britain, by cutting her off from all intercourse with the continent of Europe.

Conˊti-nen′tal

,
Noun.
1.
(Amer. Hist.)
A soldier in the Continental army. See
Continental
,
Adj.
, 3.
2.
(Amer. Hist.)
a piece of the Continental currency, paper money issued under authority of the Continental Congress. See
Continental
,
Adj.
, 3.

Webster 1828 Edition


Continental

CONTINENTAL

,
Adj.
Pertaining or relating to a continent; as the continental powers of Europe. In America, pertaining to the United States, as continental money, in distinction from what pertains to the separate states; a word much used during the revolution.