different between retain vs retent

English

Etymology

From Middle French, Old French retenir, from Vulgar Latin *retin?re, from Latin retine? (“hold back”), from re- + tene? (“to hold”)

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /???te?n/
• Hyphenation: re?tain
• Rhymes: -e?n

Verb

retain (third-person singular simple present retains, present participle retaining, simple past and past participle retained)

1. (transitive) To keep in possession or use.
   • 1886, Eleanor Marx-Aveling (translator), Gustave Flaubert, Madame Bovary, first published 1856, Part III Chapter XI

     A strange thing was that Bovary, while continually thinking of Emma, was forgetting her. He grew desperate as he felt this image fading from his memory in spite of all efforts to retain it. Yet every night he dreamt of her; it was always the same dream. He drew near her, but when he was about to clasp her she fell into decay in his arms.
2. (transitive) To keep in one's pay or service.

   • A Benedictine convent has now retained the most learned father of their order to write in its defence.}}

3. (transitive) To employ by paying a retainer.
4. (transitive) To hold secure.
5. (transitive, education) To hold back (a pupil) instead of allowing them to advance to the next class or year.
6. (obsolete) To restrain; to prevent.
7. (intransitive, obsolete) To belong; to pertain.
   • 1661, Robert Boyle, A Physico-chemical Essay, Containing an Experiment Touching the Differing Parts and. Redintegration of Salt-Petre

     A somewhat languid relish, retaining to bitterness.

Synonyms

• keep

Related terms

Translations

Anagrams

• Reitan, atrine, ratiné, retina, tanier, tearin', tin ear

English

Etymology

From Latin retentum, from retentus, perfect passive participle of retine?. See retain.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /???t?nt/

Noun

retent (plural retents)

1. That which is retained.
   • 1854, Laurens Perseus Hickok, Empirical Psychology: Or, The Science of Mind from Experience

     The retent, when known, stands before us as if reflected and inverted in a mirror, the nearest events in the past being this way the nearest as actually remembered.

Anagrams

• Netter, netter, tenter

Catalan

Verb

retent

1. present participle of retre