Retain /(rē̇*tān")/

Re·tain

Retain

v. t.

imp. & p. p. Retained; p. pr. & vb. n. Retaining

  1. To continue to hold; to keep in possession; not to lose, part with, or dismiss; to restrain from departure, escape, or the like.
    Be obedient, and retain Unalterably firm his love entire.
    An executor may retain a debt due to him from the testator.
  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.
  3. To restrain; to prevent. [Obs.]

Phrases & Compounds
Retaining wall
a wall built to keep any movable backing, or a bank of sand or earth, in its place; -- called also retain wall.

Retain

v. i.
  1. To belong; to pertain. [Obs.]
    A somewhat languid relish, retaining to bitterness.
  2. To keep; to continue; to remain. [Obs.]