Retinue
/ˈrɛt.ɪ.nuː/noun
A group of attendants or followers accompanying an important person.
Did you know?Retinue comes through Old French from a verb meaning “to keep back” or “retain,” so the word’s history is less about glamour than about who gets held close to power.
Etymological Timeline
Latin
Latin
retinēre
“to hold back, keep back, retain”
Late Latin
Latin
retinēre / retinuta
“a holding back; something retained”
Old French
Old French
retenue
“a following, suite; an act of retaining or keeping back”
Middle English
English
retinue
“a body of retainers or attendants”
Modern English
English
retinue
“a group of attendants or followers accompanying an important person”