retain

Etymology

Definitions

1. 1

   Often followed by from

   Often followed by from: to hold back (someone or something); to check, to prevent, to restrain, to stop.

2. 2

   Of a thing

   Of a thing: to hold or keep (something) inside it; to contain.

   • [I]f diſtilled Vinegar or Aquafortis be povvred upon the povvder of Loadſtone, the ſubſiding povvder dryed, retaines ſome magneticall vertue, and vvill be attracted by the Loadſtone: […]
3. 3

   To hold (something) secure

   To hold (something) secure; to prevent (something) from becoming detached or separated.

4. ›+ 15 more definitionsshow fewer

   1. 4

      To keep (something) in control or possession

      To keep (something) in control or possession; to continue having (something); to keep back.

      • Robert of Artoys baniſht though thou be, / From Fraunce thy natiue Country, yet with vs, / Thou ſhalt retayne as great a Seigniorie: / For vve create thee Earle of Richmond heere, […]
      • Then preacing to the pillour I repeated / The read thereof for guerdon of my paine, / And taking dovvne the ſhield, vvith me did it retaine.
      • Sir Roger Acton, thou retainſt the name / Of knight, and ſhouldſt be more diſcreetly temperd, / Than ioyne vvith peaſants, gentry is diuine, / But thou haſt made it more then popular.
   2. 5

      To keep (something) in place or use, instead of removing or abolishing it

      To keep (something) in place or use, instead of removing or abolishing it; to preserve.

      • And yet leſte any manne ſhould bee offended (whom good reaſon might ſatiſfie) here be certayne cauſes rendered, why ſome of the accuſtomed Ceremonies be put awaye, and ſome be retayned and kept ſtill.
   3. 6

      To engage or hire (someone), especially temporarily.

   4. 7

      To keep (someone) in one's pay or service

      To keep (someone) in one's pay or service; also, (chiefly historical) to maintain (someone) as a dependent or follower.

      • [H]e entruſted the government of the province to Archas Martin and Lupicaire, tvvo mercenary Brabançons, vvhom he had retained in his ſervice.
   5. 8

      To control or restrain (oneself)

      To control or restrain (oneself); to exercise self-control over (oneself).

   6. 9

      To keep (someone) in custody

      To keep (someone) in custody; to prevent (someone) from leaving.

      • There vvith the Nymph his mother, like her thrall; / VVho ſore againſt his vvill did him retaine, / For feare of perill, vvhich to him mote fall, / Through his too ventrous provveſſe proued ouer all.
   7. 10

      To declare (a sin) not forgiven.

      • Receave the holy gooſt: whoſoevers ſynnes ye remyt⸝ they are remitted vnto them: And whoſoevers ſynnes ye retayne⸝ they are retayned.
      • I vvill ſo remit vvrongs, as I may not encourage others to offer them; and ſo retaine them, as I may not induce God to retaine mine to him.
   8. 11

      To keep in control or possession

      To keep in control or possession; to continue having.

   9. 12

      To have the ability to keep something in the mind

      To have the ability to keep something in the mind; to use the memory.

      • The things that make a good Judge, or good Interpreter of the Lavves, are, […] Fourthly, and laſtly, Patience to heare; diligent attention in hearing; and memory to retain, digeſt and apply vvhat he hath heard.
      • Alike, to all the kind, impartial Heav'n / The ſparks of truth and happineſs has giv'n: / VVith ſenſe to feel, vvith memory to retain, / They follovv pleaſure, and they fly from pain; […]
   10. 13

       Of a body or body organ

       Of a body or body organ: to hold back tissue or a substance.

   11. 14

       To refrain from doing something.

       • [T]hey can ſcarce retaine from burſting foorth / In plaine reuolt.
   12. 15

       To be a dependent or follower to someone.

       • He was reteynyng to Sergius Paulus, whiche was proconſull, that is to ſaye lieutenaunt, or the lorde deputie of that Yland, and was a wyſe man and of good experience.
       • VVhen ſoone thoſe other Rils to Seuerne vvhich retaine, / And 'tended not on Teame, thus of themſelues do ſhovve / The ſeruice that to her they abſolutely ovve.
       • And therefore hereto he inveigleth, not only the Sadduces and ſuch as retaine unto the Church of God, but is alſo content that Epicurus Democritus or any of the heathen ſhould hold the ſame.
   13. 16

       To continue, to remain.

       • No more can impure man retaine and move / In that pure region of a vvorthy love: / Then earthly ſubſtance can unforc'd aſpire, / And leave his nature to converſe vvith fire: […]
   14. 17

       An act of holding or keeping something

       An act of holding or keeping something; a possession, a retention.

   15. 18

       Synonym of retinue (“a group of attendants or servants, especially of someone considered…

       Synonym of retinue (“a group of attendants or servants, especially of someone considered important”).

The neighborhood

• neighborabstain
• neighborcontain
• neighbormaintain
• neighborobtain
• neighborretainder
• neighborretainment
• neighborretent
• neighborretentate
• neighborretention
• neighborretentional
• neighborretentionist
• neighborretentive