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That which is contained; the extent; the substance. [Obs.] The containment of a rich man's estate. Fuller.

Having a high crown, or a point or peak at top. [Obs.] A copatain hat made on a Flemish block. Gascoigne.

A flag; an ensign; -- in contempt. [Obs.] Shak. Behind the curtain, in concealment; in secret. -- Curtain lecture, a querulous lecture given by a wife to her husband within the bed curtains, or in bed. Jerrold. A curtain lecture is worth all the sermons in the world for teaching the virtues of patience and long-suffer…

To keep back or from; to withhold. Detain not the wages of the hireling. Jer. Taylor.

A writ. See Detinue.

One who detains.

Detention. [R.] Blackstone.

To tinge with a different color from the natural or proper one; to stain; to discolor; to sully; to tarnish; to defile; -- used chiefly in poetry. "Distained with dirt and blood." Spenser. [She] hath . . . distained her honorable blood. Spenser. The worthiness of praise distains his worth. Shak.

To inclose with curtains.

To be at the charges of; to take or keep in one's service; to maintain; to support; to harbor; to keep.

One who entertains.

Affording entertainment; pleasing; amusing; diverting. -- En`ter*tain"ing*ly, adv. -- En`ter*tain"ing*ness, n.

, or cherishing; hospitable reception; also, reception or treatment, in general. The entertainment of Christ by faith. Baxter. The sincere entertainment and practice of the precepts of the gospel. Bp. Sprat.

Pertaining to Epictetus, the Roman Stoic philosopher, whose conception of life was to be passionless under whatever circumstances.

A reservoir or chamber to contain a liquid which can be conducted or drawn off as needed for use; as, the ink fountain in a printing press, etc.

Having no fountain; destitute of springs or sources of water. Barren desert, fountainless and dry. Milton.

Dipped in the gall of the fabulous hydra; poisonous; deadly. Cowper.

Uncertain; doubtful; unsteady. -- In*cer"tain*ly, adv. Very questionable and of uncertain truth. Sir T. Browne.

Uncertainty. [Obs.] Shak.

To curtain. [Obs.]