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Retain
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Meaning
Verb
●
Often
followed by
from: to
hold back
(someone
or something
); to
check
, to
prevent
, to
restrain
, to stop.
●
In Education:
Often
followed by
from: to
hold back
(someone
or something
); to
check
, to
prevent
, to
restrain
, to stop.
To
hold back
(a
pupil
)
instead of
allowing
them to
advance
to the next
class
or year; to keep back.
●
Of a
thing
: to
hold
or keep (something) inside it; to contain.
●
In Medicine:
Of a
thing
: to
hold
or keep (something) inside it; to contain.
To
hold back
(tissue or a
substance
, especially
urine
) in the body or a body organ.
●
To
hold
(something)
secure
; to
prevent
(something) from becoming
detached
or separated.
●
To keep (something)
in control
or
possession
; to
continue
having (something); to keep back.
To keep (something) in the
mind
; to
recall
, to remember.
●
To keep (something)
in place
or use,
instead of
removing
or
abolishing
it; to preserve.
●
To
engage
or
hire
(someone), especially temporarily.
●
In Law:
To
engage
or
hire
(someone), especially temporarily.
To
employ
(someone, especially a
lawyer
) by
paying
a
retainer
(“fee one
pays
to
reserve
another person's time for services”);
specifically
, to
engage
(a
barrister
) by making an
initial
payment
to
secure
their services if needed.
●
To keep (someone) in
one's
pay
or service; also, (chiefly
historical
) to
maintain
(someone) as a
dependent
or follower.
●
To control or
restrain
(oneself); to
exercise
self-control
over (oneself).
●
To keep (someone) in
custody
; to
prevent
(someone) from leaving.
●
In Christianity:
To
declare
(a
sin
) not forgiven.
●
To keep
in control
or
possession
; to
continue
having.
●
To have the ability to keep something in the
mind
; to use the memory.
●
In Medicine:
Of a body or body
organ
: to
hold back
tissue
or a substance.
●
To
refrain
from doing something.
●
To be a
dependent
or
follower
to someone.
●
To
continue
, to remain.
Noun
●
An
act
of
holding
or
keeping
something; a
possession
, a retention.
●
Synonym of
retinue
(“a group of
attendants
or
servants
, especially of someone considered important”)
Sourced from
Wiktionary
Origin
retain
English
retenir
French
Sourced from
Etym
Synonyms
Retainal
Retaining
Retainment
Retinue
Withhold
Keep
Antonyms
Remit
Related
Preserve
Maintain
Acquire
Possess
Gain
Sustain
Utilize
Hold
Lose
Absorb
Develop
Restore
Establish
Generate
Uphold
Manage
Conserve
Strengthen
Protect
Relinquish
Achieve
Attract
Store
Remove
Receive
Reclaim
Capture
Secure
Collect
Employ
Transfer
Recover
Inherit
Deliver
Recognize
Produce
Identify
Create
Improve
Support
Enhance
Contain
Handle
Evaluate
Offer
Utilise
Maximize
Control
Exploit
Incorporate
Motivate
Consolidate
Exhibit
Represent
Occupy
Safeguard
Promote
More
Rhymes
Cane
Fane
Sane
Mane
Sain
Vain
Dane
Pane
Wane
Vane
Lain
Rein
Kane
Vein
Fain
Gain
Bain
Jane
Main
Bane
Jane
Wain
Lane
Pain
Rain
Crane
Amain
Thane
Reign
Seine
Wayne
Plane
Spain
Shane
Chain
Feign
Brane
Paine
Grain
Brain
Inane
Again
Swain
Drane
Slane
Deign
Stane
Drain
Maine
Slain
Twain
Plain
Skein
Stain
Train
Crain
Insane
Attain
Ordain
Belain
Domain
Urbane
Obtain
Atwain
Mcbain
Strain
Alkane
Arcane
Retain
Detain
Remain
Elaine
Regain
Blaine
Humane
Fusain
Sprain
Klaine
Sustain
Terrain
Pertain
Ingrain
Abstain
Chicane
Abthane
Demesne
Moraine
Unchain
Entrain
Astrain
Arraign
Ukraine
Profane
Refrain
Contain
Cocaine
Macbain
Detrain
Explain
Retrain
Enplane
Mundane
Restain
Germane
Bahrain
Romaine
Eucaine
Disdain
Inhumane
Complain
Restrain
Montseny
Overlain
Marocain
Maintain
Campaign
Ptomaine
Lorraine
Distrain
Champaign
Entertain
Underlain
Aquitaine
Mansplain
Constrain
Ascertain
Appertain
Champagne
Withstrain
Pertaining
Legerdemain
More
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