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retain - 7 dictionary results

re⋅tain

  [ri-teyn]
Use retain in a Sentence
–verb (used with object)
1. to keep possession of.
2. to continue to use, practice, etc.: to retain an old custom.
3. to continue to hold or have: to retain a prisoner in custody; a cloth that retains its color.
4. to keep in mind; remember.
5. to hold in place or position.
6. to engage, esp. by payment of a preliminary fee: to retain a lawyer.
Origin:
1350–1400; ME reteinen < OF retenir < L retinēre to hold back, hold fast, equiv. to re- re- + -tinēre, comb. form of tenēre to hold

Related forms:
re⋅tain⋅a⋅ble, adjective
re⋅tain⋅a⋅bil⋅i⋅ty, re⋅tain⋅a⋅ble⋅ness, noun
re⋅tain⋅ment, noun

Synonyms:
1. hold, preserve. See keep.

Antonyms:
1. loose, lose. 4. forget.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To retain
re·tain   (rĭ-tān')   
tr.v.   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.

[Middle English retainen, from Old French retenir, from Latin retinēre : re-, re- + tenēre, to hold; see ten- in Indo-European roots.]
re·tain'a·bil'i·ty n., re·tain'a·ble adj., re·tain'ment n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Retain

Re*tain"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Retained; p. pr. & vb. n. Retaining.] [F. retainir, L. retinere; pref. re- re- + tenere to hold, keep. See Tenable, and cf. Rein of a bridle, Retention, Retinue.]

1. To continue to hold; to keep in possession; not to lose, part with, or dismiss; to retrain from departure, escape, or the like. "Thy shape invisibleretain." --Shak.

Be obedient, and retain Unalterably firm his love entire. --Milton.

An executor may retain a debt due to him from the testator. --Blackstone.

2. To keep in pay; to employ by a preliminary fee paid; to hire; to engage; as, to retain a counselor.

A Benedictine convent has now retained the most learned father of their order to write in its defense. --Addison.

3. To restrain; to prevent. [Obs.] --Sir W. Temple.

Retaining wall (Arch. & Engin.), a wall built to keep any movable backing, or a bank of sand or earth, in its place; -- called also retain wall.

Syn: To keep; hold; retrain. See Keep.

Retain

Re*tain"\, v. i. 1. To belong; to pertain. [Obs.]

A somewhat languid relish, retaining to bitterness. --Boyle.

2. To keep; to continue; to remain. [Obs.] --Donne.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Language Translation for : retain
Spanish: retener, conservar,
German: bewahren,
Japanese: 保つ
More Translations »

retain 
c.1386, from O.Fr. retenir, from L. retinere "hold back," from re- "back" + tenere "to hold" (see tenet). Meaning "keep (another) attached to one's person, keep in service" is from 1450; specifically of lawyers, 1548.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Main Entry: re·tain
Pronunciation: ri-'tAn
Function: transitive verb
1 : to keep in possession or use
2 : to keep in one's pay or service; specifically : to employ (as a lawyer) by paying a retainer
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Main Entry: re·tain
Pronunciation: ri-'tAn
Function: transitive verb
1 : to hold or keep in <retain fluids>
2 : to keep in mind or memory
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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