Etymology From Middle English continuen, from Old French continuer, from Latin continuāre. Displaced native Middle English thurghwonen, from Old English þurhwunian.
To proceed with (doing an activity); to prolong (an activity).
Shall I continue speaking, or will you just interrupt me again?
Do you want me to continue to unload these?
4 more examples
Firstly, I continue to base most species treatments on personally collected material, rather than on herbarium plants.1992, Rudolf M[athias] Schuster, The Hepaticae and Anthocerotae of North America: East of the Hundredth Meridian, volume V, Chicago, Ill.: Field Museum of Natural History, →ISBN, page vii:
Amid criticism that it was acting too slowly and indecisively in the face of disaster, TEPCO flooded three of its unstable reactors with water. It continues to do so while efforts continue towards long-term recovery.2012 February 13, Hilary Whiteman, “Japan: False thermometer may be behind high readings”, in CNN, archived from the original on 28 Nov 2022:
Fuelled by their fury, Spurs surged forward and gave themselves hope after 56 minutes when Scott Parker's precise through-ball released Adebayor. He was pulled down in the area by Cech but referee Atkinson allowed play to continue for Bale to roll the ball into an empty net.2012 April 15, Phil McNulty, “Tottenham 1-5 Chelsea”, in BBC Sport, archived from the original on 30 Mar 2022:
It has emphasised that the proposals do not involve any work on the railway itself, so train services would continue to run throughout.2022 January 12, “Network News: £7.2 million plan to stop flooding and protect South West rail link”, in RAIL, number 948, page 12:
2
To make last; to prolong.
Can you account him wise or discreet that would willingly have his health, and yet will do nothing that should procure or continue it?, New York, 2001, p.74
Gino was distracted. She knew why; he wanted a son. He could talk and think of nothing else. His one desire was to become the father of a man like himself, and it held him with a grip he only partially understood, for it was the first great desire, the first great passion of his life. Falling in love was a mere physical triviality, like warm sun or cool water, beside this divine hope of immortality: "I continue."1905, E. M. Forster, Where Angels Fear to Tread, chapter 4
3
To retain (someone or something) in a given state, position, etc.
[…] dip the mouth of it within the second glass and remove your finger; continue it in that posture for a time, and it will unmingle the wine from the water […]1627 (indicated as 1626), Francis [Bacon], “(please specify the page, or |century=I to X)”, in Sylua Syluarum: Or A Naturall Historie. In Ten Centuries. […], London: […] William Rawley […]; [p]rinted by J[ohn] H[aviland] for William Lee […], →OCLC:
The schools were very much the brainchild of Bertin, and although the latter was ousted from the post of Controller-General by Choiseul in 1763, he was continued by the king as a fifth secretary of state […].2002, Colin Jones, The Great Nation, Penguin, published 2003, page 257:
4
To remain in a given place or condition; to remain in connection with; to abide; to stay.
Copulative sense obsolete
Here to continue, and build up here / A growing empire.1667, John Milton, “Book II”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC:
They continue with me now three days, and have nothing to eat.1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Matthew xv:32:
1 more example
He then passed by the fellow, who still continued in the posture in which he fell, and entered the room where Northerton, as he had heard, was confined.1749, Henry Fielding, The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling, volume (please specify |volume=I to VI), London: A[ndrew] Millar, […], →OCLC:
Etymology From Middle English continuen, from Old French continuer, from Latin continuāre. Displaced native Middle English thurghwonen, from Old English þurhwunian.
1
Video games An option allowing the player to resume play after game over, when all lives have been lost, while retaining their progress.
So if you died battling the green monster inside the cave—and you had run out of lives—maybe a continue would be available.2008, Jeannie Novak, Luis Levy, Play the Game: The Parent's Guide to Video Games, →ISBN, page 48:
Moreover, where three lives and a sparse availability of extra life-giving '1-Ups' marked the 1991 experience, the iPod player is offered an unlimited number of continues with which to progress through the gameworld.2012, James A. Newman, Best Before: Videogames, Supersession and Obsolescence, →ISBN, page 128: