retain

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

(verb)

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

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See retain in Webster's New World College Dictionary

transitive verb

  1. to hold or keep in possession
  2. to keep in a fixed state or condition
  3. to continue to have or hold in: to retain heat
  4. to continue to practice, use, etc.
  5. to keep in mind
  6. 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:

See retain in American Heritage Dictionary 4

transitive verb re·tained, re·tain·ing, re·tains
  1. To maintain possession of. See Synonyms at keep.
  2. To keep or hold in a particular place, condition, or position.
  3. To keep in mind; remember.
  4. To hire (an attorney, for example) by the payment of a fee.
  5. 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

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Related Forms:

  • re·tainˌa·bilˈi·ty noun
  • re·tainˈa·ble adjective
  • re·tainˈment noun

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