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retentive

[ ri-ten-tiv ]
/ rɪˈtɛn tɪv /
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See synonyms for retentive on Thesaurus.com
adjective
tending or serving to retain something.
having power or capacity to retain.
having power or ability to remember; having a good memory.
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Origin of retentive

1325–75; Middle English retentif<Middle French <Medieval Latin retentīvus, equivalent to Latin retent(us) (see retention) + -īvus-ive

OTHER WORDS FROM retentive

Words nearby retentive

retelling, retem, retene, retention, retentionist, retentive, retentivity, retepore, retest, rethink, Rethondes
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Words related to retentive

cohesive, determined, dogged, forceful, persistent, relentless, resolute, spunky, staunch, steadfast, stout, strong-willed, stubborn, tough, unswerving, absorptive, dry, imbibing, bibulous, penetrable

How to use retentive in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for retentive

retentive
/ (rɪˈtɛntɪv) /
adjective
having the capacity to retain or remember

Derived forms of retentive

retentively, adverbretentiveness, noun
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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