retainer

Definitions

1. 1.One who is retained or kept in service; an attendant; an adherent; a hanger-on.
2. 2.Hence, a servant, not a domestic, but occasionally attending and wearing his master's livery. Cowell.
3. 3.(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.
4. 4.The act of keeping dependents, or the state of being in dependence. Bacon.

Source: Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913 edition (public domain, via GCIDE / Project Gutenberg).

Related questions

• What does "retainer" mean?

Reverse-dictionary questions

Definition-first questions whose answer is retainer.

• What is one who is retained or kept in service; an attendant; an adherent; a hanger-on called?
• What is hence, a servant, not a domestic, but occasionally attending and wearing his master's livery. Cowell called?
• What is the act of keeping dependents, or the state of being in dependence. Bacon called?