retain

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology | 1996 | 523 words | Copyright

retain †restrain XIV; keep hold or possession of, keep in one's service; keep in mind XV; keep attached to one XVI. — AN. retei(g)n-, repr. tonic stem of OF. retenir :- Rom. *retenēre, for L. retinēre, f. RE- + tenēre hold.
Hence retainer¹ (-ER5) (authorization of) retaining for oneself XV; fee for retaining a barrister's services XIX. retainer² (-ER1) maintainer, preserver; dependant on a person of rank. XVI. So retention XIV. — (O)F. or L. retentive XIV. — (O)F. or medL.

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T. F. HOAD. "retain." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 12 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

T. F. HOAD. "retain." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (February 12, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-retain.html

T. F. HOAD. "retain." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Retrieved February 12, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-retain.html

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