retention

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   The act of retaining or something retained.

   No woman's heart / So big, to hold so much; they lack retention.

2. 2
   noun

   Memory; what is retained in the mind.

   "Still," Suit echoed. "The way she handles the gun jamming." Suit shook their head in admiration. "Tap, rack, bang, without hesitation. That's extraordinary retention."

3. 3
   noun

   That which contains something, as a tablet; a means of preserving impressions.

   Thy gift, thy tables, are within my brain Full character’d with lasting memory, […] That poor retention could not so much hold, Nor need I tallies thy dear love to score;

4. 4
   noun

   The act of withholding; restraint; reserve.

   His life I gave him, and did thereto add / My love without retention or restraint,

5. 5
   noun

   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.

   The right of retention, which bears a near resemblance to compensation, is chiefly competent where the mutual debts, not being liquid, cannot be the ground of compensation

6. 6
   noun

   the act of retaining something

7. 7
   noun

   the power of retaining liquid

8. 8
   noun

   the power of retaining and recalling past experience

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”)).