Retention
/rɪˈtɛn.ʃən/noun
The act or state of keeping or holding something back or in place.
Did you know?Retention comes from Latin *retentio*, built on *tenere* (“to hold”), the same ancient root behind a whole family of words about grasping, keeping, and control.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*ten-
“to stretch, hold, or grasp”
Latin
Latin
tenēre
“to hold, keep, possess”
Latin
Latin
retinēre
“to hold back, keep back”
Late Latin
Latin
retentio
“a keeping back, detention”
Old French
Old French
retencion
“retention, act of keeping back”
Middle English
English
retencioun
“the act of retaining or keeping in possession”
Modern English
English
retention
“the act or power of retaining or keeping something”