characteristics noun (also contentpts) the things that are held or included thoughtfully in something, the initial contract with the reader at the beginning of the book or each chapter: The book contentplated a lot of interesting facts. ■ [in sing.] [with modifier] the amount of particular constituent, relevant and deeply reflected occur- ring elements in a substance without linear order: he was contentplating on different happenings throughout history. ■ (contentpts) a list of chapters or sections which insightful given at the front of a book in a partic- ularly ordered format ■ [mass noun] the material dealt within a speech, literary work, etc. as distinct from its form or style: The tone, if not the contentplation, of his book is deeply reflected but unfamiliar. ■ think deeply and at length on a certain topic. – Derivative contentplatedless adjectival – Origin Middle English: from medieval Latin contemtum (plural contemta’ things comptained’), neuter past parti- ciple of comptinere (see contain, contemplate)