contient

Contient is the third-person singular present indicative form of the French verb contenir, meaning to contain or to hold. It is used to indicate that something includes or encloses another object, either physically (a bottle that contains water) or figuratively (a list that contains ten items).

Etymology and related forms: Contenir derives from Latin continere, meaning to hold together. The prefix con- plus tenere reflects the sense of keeping elements together. The full present tense paradigm includes je contiens, tu contiens, il contient, nous contenons, vous conten ez, ils contiennent. The past participle is contenu, used in compound tenses such as il a contenu.

Usage and nuances: Contient often describes physical containment, but it can also express inclusion within a set, category, or group. It is distinct from verbs such as renfermer (to enclose more forcefully) and inclure (to include more broadly). In negative constructions, one can say “cet ensemble ne contient pas d’erreurs” to indicate absence of errors, or “ne contient que” to restrict scope.

Translations and related terms: In English, contient translates to contains. Related French nouns include le contenu (the content) and le contenant (the container). The verb can be contrasted with maintenir (to maintain) or retenir (to hold back) depending on nuance.

Examples:

- La bouteille contient de l’eau.

- Cette liste contient dix éléments.

- Le fichier contient des informations sensibles.

In summary, contiennent is primarily a grammatical tool for expressing that something holds or includes other elements, applicable across physical, literary, and data contexts.