An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics

1. General: Uninterrupted in extent, sequence, or time.
   

2. Math.: A line or curve that extends without a break. → continuous function.

Etymology (EN): From L. continuus “uninterrupted,” from contin(ere) “to hold together, retain,” → continue,

• -uus verbal adj. suffix.

Etymology (PE): Peyvasté “continous,” peyvastan “to connect, join,” Mid.Pers. paywastan, from *pati-basta-, from suffix pati-
(Mid.Pers. pât-,from O.Pers. paity “agaist, back, opposite to, toward, face to face, in front of,” Av. paiti, akin to Skt. práti “toward, against, again, back, in return, opposite,” Pali pati-, Gk. proti, pros “face to face with, toward, in addition to, near;” PIE *proti) + basta- “tied, shut” (Av./O.Pers. band- “to bind, fetter,” banda- “band, tie,” Skt. bandh- “to bind, tie, fasten,” PIE *bhendh- “to bind,” cf. Ger. binden, E. bind), cf. Skt. prati-bandh- “to tie.”