Lexic.us

Definition of Retain

1. Verb. Hold back within. "The dam retains the water"

2. Verb. Allow to remain in a place or position or maintain a property or feature. "This garment retains its shape even after many washings"

3. Verb. Secure and keep for possible future use or application. "They retain the money "; "I reserve the right to disagree"

4. Verb. Keep in one's mind. "They won't retain the story "; "I cannot retain so much information"

Definition of Retain

1. v. t. To continue to hold; to keep in possession; not to lose, part with, or dismiss; to retrain from departure, escape, or the like.

2. v. i. To belong; to pertain.

Definition of Retain

1. Verb. (transitive) To keep in possession or use. ¹

2. Verb. (transitive) To keep in one's pay or service. ¹

3. Verb. (transitive) To employ by paying a retainer. ¹

4. Verb. (transitive) To hold secure. ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Retain

1. to keep possession of [v -ED, -ING, -S]

Lexicographical Neighbors of Retain

retail store retail theft retail therapy retailed retailer retailers retailing retailings retailment retailor

retailored retailoring retailors retails retailtainment retain (current term) retainable retainal retained retained mode

retained object retained placenta retainer retainers retaining retaining wall retaining walls retainment retainments

Literary usage of Retain

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. The American Journal of Psychology by Granville Stanley Hall, Edward Bradford Titchener (1916)
"ON MEMORIZING WITH THE INTENTION PERMANENTLY TO retain By FP BOSWELL and WS ... That the intention to retain is an important factor in memorizing has been ..."

2. The Catholic Encyclopedia: An International Work of Reference on the by Charles George Herbermann (1913)
"Napoleon attempted to make Fesch accept the See of Paris, while the latter wished to retain that of Lyons. Cardinal Maury (1746-1817), formerly a royalist ..."

3. A Treatise of Human Nature: Being an Attempt to Introduce the Experimental by David Hume (1890)
"ITo does not even retain them as ' abstract ideas.' simple feeling. For a merely sentient being, it is true—for one who did not think upon his feelings—the ..."

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