Cōn'-ti-nĕnt'al1, a.
a. 1. Pertaining or relating to a continent.
Sense 2. Pertaining to the main land of Europe, in distinction from the adjacent islands, especially England; as, a continental tour.
No former king had involved himself so frequently in the labyrinth of continental alliances. Hallam.
Sense 3. (Amer. Hist.) Pertaining to the confederated colonies in the time of the revolutionary war. “Delegates to the Continental Congress.” Bancroft.
The army before Boston was designated as the Continental army, in contradistinction to that under General Gage, which was called the “ministerial army.” W. Irving.