From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 [gcide]:
Retain \Re*tain"\, verb (used without an object)
1. To belong; to pertain. [Obs.]
A somewhat languid relish, retaining to bitterness. --Boyle.
2. To keep; to continue; to remain. [Obs.] --Donne.
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 [gcide]:
Retain \Re*tain"\ (r[-e]*t[=a]n"), verb (used with an object) [imp. & p. p. {Retained} (r[-e]*t[=a]nd"); p. pr. & vb. n. {Retaining}.] [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 restrain from departure, escape, or the like. ''Thy shape invisible retain.'' --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; restrain. See {Keep}.
From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:
verb
1: hold within; "This soil retains water"; "I retain this drug for a long time"
2: allow to remain in a place or position; "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" [syn: {continue}, {keep}, {keep on}, {keep going}]
3: secure and keep for possible future use or application; "The landlord retained the security deposit"; "I reserve the right to disagree" [syn: {hold}, {keep back}, {hold back}]
4: keep in one's mind; "I cannot retain so much information"
From Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0 [moby-thes]:
100 Moby Thesaurus words for "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
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