## Meanings
1. The act of keeping something rather than losing or giving it up.
2. The ability to remember information.
3. The act of holding liquid in the body instead of releasing it.

## Examples
- The company is focused on improving staff retention.
- Repeating new words helps with retention.
- Too much salt can cause water retention.

## Derived Forms
- bioretention
- gastroretention
- irretention
- nonretention
- overretention
- retentional
- retentionist

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: *ten-
- Root: retencioun
- Root: retentiō

## Etymology
From Middle English retencioun, borrowed from Latin retentiō, retentiōnis, from retentus, the perfect passive participle of retineō (“retain”) (from re- (“back, again”) + teneō (“hold, keep”)).

## AI Etymology
Retention is from Middle English retencioun, borrowed from Latin retentiō, retentiōnis, from retentus, the perfect passive participle of retineō (“retain”) (from re- (“back, again”) + teneō (“hold, keep”)). The analysis is mainly morphological: the modern nominal form is built from the named base and affix. In present-day use, it can mean the act of keeping something rather than losing or giving it up, or the ability to remember information. Derived formations include bioretention, gastroretention, irretention, nonretention, overretention.

## Topics
- Space, Position & Direction
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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retention

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