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Webster 1913 Edition

Retain

Re-tain′

(rē̍-tān′)
,
Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Retained
(rē̍-tānd′)
;
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
.

Re-tain′

,
Verb.
I.
1.
To belong; to pertain.
[Obs.]
A somewhat languid relish,
retaining
to bitterness.
Boyle.
2.
To keep; to continue; to remain.
[Obs.]
Donne.

Webster 1828 Edition

Retain

RETA'IN

,
Verb.
T.
[L. retineo; re and teneo, to hold.]
1.
To hold or keep in possession; not to lose or part with or dismiss. The memory retains ideas which facts or arguments have suggested to the mind.
They did not like to retain God in their knowledge. Rom. 1.
2.
To keep, as an associate; to keep from departure.
Whom I would have retained with me. Phil. 13.
3.
To keep back; to hold.
An executor may retain a debt due to him from the testator.
4.
To hold from escape. Some substances retain heat much longer than others. Metals readily receive and transmit heat, but do not long retain it. Seek cloths that retain their color.
5.
To keep in pay; to hire.
A Benedictine convent has now retained the most learned father of their order to write in its defense.
6.
To engage; to employ by a fee paid; as, to retain a counselor.

RETA'IN

, v.i.
1.
To belong to; to depend on; as coldness mixed with a somewhat languid relish retaining to bitterness.
[Not in use. We now use pertain.]
2.
To keep; to continue. [Not in use.]

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