RETAIN
retain
(verb) keep in one’s mind; “I cannot retain so much information”
retain, hold, keep back, hold back
(verb) secure and keep for possible future use or application; “The landlord retained the security deposit”; “I reserve the right to disagree”
retain, continue, keep, keep on
(verb) allow to remain in a place or position or maintain a property or feature; “We cannot continue several servants any longer”; “She retains a lawyer”; “The family’s fortune waned and they could not keep their household staff”; “Our grant has run out and we cannot keep you on”; “We kept the work going as long as we could”; “She retained her composure”; “this garment retains its shape even after many washings”
retain
(verb) hold back within; “This soil retains water”; “I retain this drug for a long time”; “the dam retains the water”
Source: WordNet® 3.1
Etymology
Verb
retain (third-person singular simple present retains, present participle retaining, simple past and past participle retained)
(transitive) To keep in possession or use.
(transitive) To keep in one's pay or service.
(transitive) To employ by paying a retainer.
(transitive) To hold secure.
(transitive, education) To hold back (a pupil) instead of allowing them to advance to the next class or year.
(obsolete) To restrain; to prevent.
(intransitive, obsolete) To belong; to pertain.
Synonyms
• keep
Anagrams
• atrine, ratinĂ©, retina, tanier, tearin', tin ear
Source: Wiktionary
Re*tain", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Retained; p. pr. & vb. n. Retaining.]
Etym: [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.
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.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition