Retain

• POS: Verb (transitive)
• HYPHEN: re=tain

CIDE DICTIONARY

Retain, v. t. [F. retainir, L. retinere; pref. re- re- + tenere to hold, keep. See Tenable, and cf. Rein of a bridle, Retention, Retinue.].

•  To continue to hold; to keep in possession; not to lose, part with, or dismiss; to restrain from departure, escape, or the like.  Shak.  [1913 Webster]

  "Be obedient, and retain
  Unalterably firm his love entire."  [1913 Webster]

  "An executor may retain a debt due to him from the testator."  [1913 Webster]
•  To keep in pay; to employ by a preliminary fee paid; to hire; to engage; as, to retain a counselor.  [1913 Webster]

  "A Benedictine convent has now retained the most learned father of their order to write in its defense."  [1913 Webster]
•  To restrain; to prevent.  Sir W. Temple.  [1913 Webster]

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; restrain. See Keep.

Retain, v. i. 

•  To belong; to pertain.  [1913 Webster]

  "A somewhat languid relish, retaining to bitterness."  [1913 Webster]
•  To keep; to continue; to remain.  Donne.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

Retain, v.tr.
1 a keep possession of; not lose; continue to have, practise, or recognize. b not abolish, discard, or alter.
2 keep in one's memory.
3 keep in place; hold fixed.
4 secure the services of (a person, esp. a barrister) with a preliminary payment.

Idiom

retaining fee a fee paid to secure a person, service, etc. retaining wall a wall supporting and confining a mass of earth or water.

Derivative

retainable adj. retainability n. retainment n.

Etymology

ME f. AF retei(g)n- f. stem of OF retenir ult. f. L retinere retent- (as RE-, tenere hold)

THESAURUS

Retain

absorb, balance, ballast, bear in mind, bespeak, book, bottle up, brief, brood over, cherish, cite, commission, conserve, contain, cork up, counterbalance, detain, dwell on, dwell upon, employ, engage, enjoy, extend, fan the embers, firm, firm up, freeze, hang on to, have in mind, hire, hold, hold back, hold in, hold in mind, hold on to, husband, immobilize, inhibit, keep, keep alive, keep back, keep by one, keep going, keep in, keep in memory, keep in mind, keep in reserve, keep in store, keep in view, keep on hand, keep out, keep up, lay by, lengthen, lock in, maintain, memorize, mind, nail down, own, perpetuate, pin down, possess, preengage, preserve, prolong, protract, put apart, put aside, put by, recall, recollect, recruit, remember, remind, reminisce, repress, reserve, retrospect, revive, save, save up, set apart, set aside, set by, sign on, sign up, sign up for, soak up, stabilitate, stabilize, steady, stick, suppress, sustain, take into employment, take on, transfix, treasure, withhold

ROGET THESAURUS

Retain

Retention

VB retain, keep, hold fast one's own, hold tight one's own, hold fast one's ground, hold tight one's ground, clinch, clench, clutch, grasp, gripe, hug, have a firm hold of, secure, withhold, detain, hold back, keep back, keep close, husband, reserve, have in stock, have on hand, keep in stock, entail, tie up, settle.

Stability

VB be firm, stick fast, stand firm, keep firm, remain firm, weather the storm, stay the course, stick to the course, keep the faith, don't give in, don't buckle under, settle, establish, stablish, ascertain, fix, set, stabilitate, retain, keep hold, make good, make sure, fasten, set on its legs, float, perpetuate, settle down, strike roots, put down roots, take root, take up one's abode, build one's house on a rock.