Word Direct Answers

What does "retain" mean?

Retain: 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.

Additional senses

  1. 2.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. See Keep.
  2. 3.To belong; to pertain. [Obs.] A somewhat languid relish, retaining to bitterness. Boyle.
  3. 4.To keep; to continue; to remain. [Obs.] Donne.

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