retention

Meaning

Noun

• The act of retaining or something retained
• The act or power of remembering things
• A memory; what is retained in the mind
• The involuntary withholding of urine and faeces
• The length of time an individual remains in treatment
• That which contains something, as a tablet; a means of preserving impressions.
• The act of withholding; restraint; reserve.
• A place of custody or confinement.
• The right to withhold a debt, or of retaining property until a debt due to the person claiming the right is duly paid; a lien.

Origin

• From Middle English retencioun, borrowed from Latin retentiō, from retentus, the perfect passive participle of retineō (from re- + teneō).