detain Hear it!

detain definition

de·tain (dē tān′, di-)

transitive verb

  1. to keep in custody; confine
  2. to keep from going on; hold back
  3. Obsolete to withhold

Etymology: ME deteinen < OFr detenir < L detinere, to hold down or off, keep back, detain < de-, off, from + tenere, to hold: see tenant

Related Forms:

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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