From Websters....
Main Entry: 2con·ti·nent
Pronunciation: 'kän-t&n-&nt, 'känt-n&nt
Function: noun
Etymology: in senses 1 & 2, from Latin continent-, continens, prp. of continEre, to hold together, contain; in senses 3 & 4, from Latin continent-, continens continuous mass of land, mainland, from continent-, continens, present participle
1 archaic : CONTAINER, CONFINES
2 archaic : EPITOME
3 : MAINLAND
4 a :
one of the six or seven great divisions of land on the globe b capitalized : the continent of Europe -- used with the
According to this DJ is right, and so are everyone else, as the term is applied to the Earth having both six or seven continents. Since Europe is considered a separate geopolitical entity from Asia it makes sense for most to give it it's own distinction.
This may very well be the first topic on GFY where everyone is right.
