continuum
n
(pl ~s or -ua) graded sequence of things of a similar kind, so that the ones next to each other are almost identical, but the ones at either end are quite distinct; cline 连续统一体.
Poverty is not a shame, but the being ashamed of it is.
贫非耻,耻贫乃耻。
He loved to be told that one of his imaginary products was temporarily out of stock and he would faithfully promise to call again at some future date, but of course he never did.