retain
[ ri-teyn ]
/ rɪˈteɪn /
verb (used with object)
to keep possession of.
to continue to use, practice, etc.: to retain an old custom.
to continue to hold or have: to retain a prisoner in custody; a cloth that retains its color.
to keep in mind; remember.
to hold in place or position.
to engage, especially by payment of a preliminary fee: to retain a lawyer.
Content related to retain
What Do A.M. And P.M. Stand For?Most English speakers know that a.m. refers to the hours from midnight and noon, and p.m. to the hours from noon and midnight. But what do these ubiquitous abbreviations stand for? The term we associate with the morning, a.m., is an abbreviation the Latin phrase ante merīdiem meaning “before midday”; p.m. is an abbreviation of post merīdiem, meaning—you guessed it—“after midday.” These two terms help …
Words nearby retain
Origin of retain
1350–1400; Middle English reteinen < Old French retenir < Latin retinēre to hold back, hold fast, equivalent to re- re- + -tinēre, combining form of tenēre to hold
OTHER WORDS FROM retain
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Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
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British Dictionary definitions for retained
retain
/ (rɪˈteɪn) /
verb (tr)
Derived forms of retain
retainable, adjectiveretainment, nounWord Origin for retain
C14: from Old French retenir, from Latin retinēre to hold back, from re- + tenēre to hold
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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