Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Retainer
Re-tain′er
,Noun.
1.
One who, or that which, retains.
2.
One who is retained or kept in service; an attendant; an adherent; a hanger-on.
3.
Hence, a servant, not a domestic, but occasionally attending and wearing his master’s livery.
Cowell.
4.
(Law)
(a)
The act of a client by which he engages a lawyer or counselor to manage his cause.
(b)
The act of withholding what one has in his hands by virtue of some right.
(c)
A fee paid to engage a lawyer or counselor to maintain a cause, or to prevent his being employed by the opposing party in the case; – called also
retaining fee
. Bouvier.
Blackstone.
5.
The act of keeping dependents, or the state of being in dependence.
Bacon.
Webster 1828 Edition
Retainer
RETA'INER
, n.1.
One who retains; as an executor, who retains a debt due from the testator.2.
One who is kept in service; an attendant; as the retainers of the ancient princes and nobility.3.
An adherent; a dependant; a hanger on.4.
A servant, not a domestic, but occasionally attending and wearing his master's livery.5.
Among lawyers, a fee paid to engage a lawyer or counselor to maintain a cause.6.
The act of keeping dependents, or being in dependence.