English word retain comes from Latin teneo, Latin re-, and later Old French (842-ca. 1400) retenir (To keep; to retain.)
| Dictionary entry | Language | Definition |
|---|---|---|
| teneo | Latin (lat) | (of laws) I am binding on; bind, hold, obligate. (reflexive) I keep back, remain, stay, hold position. I comprise, contain, include, hold. I hold fast, restrain, detain, check, control; bind, fetter. I hold, have; grasp. I insist, uphold. I know, grasp, understand, conceive. I possess, occupy, control. I reach, attain; gain, acquire, obtain. I recollect, retain knowledge of, remember, bear [...] |
| re- | Latin (lat) | Again; prefix added to various words to indicate an action being done again, or like the other usages indicated above under English.. Back, backwards. |
| retineo | Latin (lat) | I hold fast, maintain, preserve, protect, guard, retain.. I hold in check, repress, check, stop, stay.. I keep or hold back, detain, restrain, retain, confine, contain; delay. |
| *retino | Vulgar Latin (la-vul) | |
| *retenīre | Vulgar Latin (la-vul) | |
| retenir | Old French (842-ca. 1400) (fro) | To keep; to retain. |
| retain | English (eng) | (obsolete) To belong; to pertain.. (obsolete) To restrain; to prevent.. (transitive) To employ by paying a retainer.. (transitive) To hold secure.. (transitive) To keep in one's pay or service.. (transitive) To keep in possession or use. |