Retain

v. t. [imp. & p. p. RÉTAINED; p. pr. & vb. n. RETAINING.] [Fr. retenir, Pr. retener, re-tener, Sp. retener, Pg. reter, It. ritenere, Lat. retinere, retentum, from re, again, back, and tenere, to hold, keep.] 1. To continue to hold; to keep in possession; not to lose, part with, or dismiss; to restrain from departure, escape, and the like. “Thy shape invisible retain.” Shak. Be obedient and retain Unalterably firm his love entire. Milton. An executor may retain a debt due to him from the testator. Blackstone. 2. To keep in pay; to hire; to engage; to employ by a fee paid; as, to retain a counselor. A Benedictine convent has now retained the most learned father of their order to write in its defense. Addison. Syn.—To keep; hold; restrain. See KEEP.