detention Hear it!

detention definition

de·ten·tion (dē ten′s̸hən, di-)

noun

  1. a detaining or being detained; specif.,
    1. a keeping in custody; confinement
    2. an enforced delay
  2. a form of punishment in which a student is required to stay after school

Etymology: ME detencioun < OFr detention < L detentio < detentus, pp. of detinere: see detain

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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