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retain

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Retain is defined as to keep, hold on to or keep in place.

(verb)

An example of retain is to keep a prized possession from childhood.
An example of retain is for mouth-gear to keep the teeth in place.

See retain in Webster's New World College Dictionary

transitive verb

to hold or keep in possession
to keep in a fixed state or condition
to continue to have or hold in: to retain heat
to continue to practice, use, etc.
to keep in mind
to hire, or arrange in advance for the services of, by paying a retainer

Origin: ME reteynen < OFr retenir < LL *retenere, for L retinere < re-, back + tenere, to hold: see thin

Related Forms:

retainable adjective
retainment noun

See retain in American Heritage Dictionary 4

transitive verb re·tained, re·tain·ing, re·tains

To maintain possession of. See Synonyms at keep.
To keep or hold in a particular place, condition, or position.
To keep in mind; remember.
To hire (an attorney, for example) by the payment of a fee.
To keep in one's service or pay.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English retainen

Origin: , from Old French retenir

Origin: , from Latin retinēre

Origin: : re-, re-

Origin: + tenēre, to hold; see ten- in Indo-European roots

Related Forms:

re·tainˌa·bilˈi·ty noun

re·tainˈa·ble adjective

re·tainˈment noun

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