Wiktionary:Word of the day/2023/July 3

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retain v

(transitive) Often followed by from: to hold back (someone or something); to check, to prevent, to restrain, to stop. (education) 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. (medicine) 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. (chiefly law) 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. (reflexive) To control or restrain (oneself); to exercise self-control over (oneself). (archaic) To keep (someone) in custody; to prevent (someone) from leaving. (Christianity) To declare (a sin) not forgiven. (intransitive) To keep in control or possession; to continue having. To have the ability to keep something in the mind; to use the memory. (medicine) Of a body or body organ: to hold back tissue or a substance. (obsolete) To refrain from doing something. To be a dependent or follower to someone. (rare) To continue, to remain. retain n (obsolete) 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”)

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