detain
verbattested in dialogue
- United Kingdom//dɪˈteɪn//
To keep something from proceeding or coming to completion; to delay.
verb
- 1
To keep something from proceeding or coming to completion; to delay.
- 2
To keep someone from proceeding by holding them back or making claims on their attention.
- 3
archaicTo keep back or from; to withhold.
Detain not the wages of the hireling.
- 4
To put someone under custody.
- 5
To seize goods for official purposes.
Etymology
From Old French detenir. Doublet of détente. Cognate with Italian detenere, Portuguese deter, Romanian deține, and Spanish detener.
Forms
- past tense
- detained
- past participle
- detained
- present participle
- detaining
- third person singular
- detains
detail · A part small enough to escape casual notice.detailed · Characterized by attention to detail and thoroughness of…Detailed · The 41st sura (chapter) of the Qur'an.
detain · To keep something from proceeding or coming to completion; to delay.
detained · Delayed or held back; kept from proceeding.detect · To discover or find by careful search, examination, or…detected · Having been noticed.