Lewis & Short

contĭnŭātĭo, ōnis, f. [2. continuo], a following of one thing after another, an unbroken series, a connection, continuation, succession (in good prose).

  1. I. In gen., with gen.: continuatio seriesque rerum, Cic. N. D. 1, 4, 9: continuatio immutabilis ordinis sempiterni, id. Ac. 1, 7, 29: imbrium, an uninterrupted succession, Caes. B. G. 3, 29: laborum, * Suet. Tib. 21; Flor. 4, 2, 79 al.: causarum, Cic. N. D. 1, 20, 55: sermonis, Quint. 8, 2, 14; cf. id. 9, 3, 23 al.
    Absol.: in quibus (rebus) peragendis continuatio ipsa efficacissima esset, Liv. 41, 15, 7.
  2. II. Esp., in rhet., a period; absol., Cic. Or. 61, 204 and 208; Quint. 9, 4, 22; 9, 4, 124: verborum, Cic. de Or. 1, 61, 261; 3, 13, 49.