retinue

[ ret-n-oo, -yoo ]

/ ˈrɛt nˌu, -ˌyu /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR retinue ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

a body of retainers in attendance upon an important personage; suite.

Nearby words

Origin of retinue

1325–75; Middle English retinue < Middle French, noun use of feminine past participle of retenir to retain

Related formsret·i·nued, adjectiveun·ret·i·nued, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for retinue

First charged with “piracy,” each member of the retinue now faces seven years in jail if found guilty of “hooliganism.”
The Return of Russian Hard Power?|Michael Weiss|November 23, 2013|DAILY BEAST
And then his retinue of friends and spiritual advisors arrived, and he floated away on a cloud of "insiderdom" and "privilege."
Russell Brand: Not Quite a Messiah|James Poulos|October 28, 2013|DAILY BEAST
There is a usually a retinue of “reliable” Mohalells in each pious community.
Is Khamenei the New Putin?|Abbas Milani|September 26, 2011|DAILY BEAST
The retinue has been the subject of much media attention.
Muammar Gaddafi's 25 Strangest Moments|David A. Graham|February 23, 2011|DAILY BEAST

This shall apply to his escort and retinue and to all who come and go in his service.
A Source Book for Mediaeval History|Oliver J. Thatcher
They carried her on her yacht—doctors, nurses, all the retinue—and sailed far out from shore.
Adrienne Toner|Anne Douglas Sedgwick
A cook, a butler, and a valet were the sum-total of his retinue.
The Lure of the Mask|Harold MacGrath
The members of the retinue belong, therefore, to four different classes.
International Law. A Treatise. Volume I (of 2)|Lassa Francis Oppenheim
Does the sun, with all its retinue of stars, pursue its daily course with no aim ulterior to man's welfare?
The World's Great Sermons, Volume 5: Guthrie to Mozley|Various

British Dictionary definitions for retinue

retinue

/ (ˈrɛtɪˌnjuː) /

noun

a body of aides and retainers attending an important person, royalty, etc

Derived Formsretinued, adjective

Word Origin for retinue

C14: from Old French retenue, from retenir to retain

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

Word Origin and History for retinue

retinue

late 14c., from Old French retenue "group of followers, state of service," literally "that which is retained," noun use of fem. past participle of retenir "to employ, to retain, hold back" (see retain). Related: Retinular.

retinue

noun

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of retinue

Examples from the Web for retinue

British Dictionary definitions for retinue

retinue

noun

Word Origin for retinue

Word Origin and History for retinue

retinue