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detineo

Etymology and origin of the Latin word detineo

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Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
Plautus
Ultimate origin
Latin (teneō)

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [deːˈtɪ.ne.oː][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [deˈtiː.ne.o][1]

Forms

dētineō (present infinitive dētinēre, perfect active dētinuī, supine dētentum); second conjugation[1]

Etymology

It is from dē- “away” and teneō “to hold”.[2][1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citation is from Plautus, of keeping someone from going.[2] Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.[4]

Semantic evolution

It meant to keep someone from going, detain, as in Plautus, and the Rhetorica ad Herennium uses it of keeping possession of a thing.[2] In Cicero it meant to occupy someone's attention, in Celsus to keep in a condition, and in Ovid to keep an activity going, with sē dētinēre to keep oneself alive.[2]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant to withhold, detain, engage.[5] It survives in Italian detenere, French détenir and Spanish detener, and through Old French it gave English detain in the early 15th century.[1][3]

Timeline

  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of detaining.[2][4]
  • 86/82 BC – The Rhetorica ad Herennium uses it of retaining.[2][4]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of occupying.[2][4]
  • early 15th century – English detain is recorded.[3]

Meanings

Verb

  1. To detain, hold back.[2]
  2. To keep possession of.[2]
  3. To occupy.[2]
  4. To keep (in a condition); to keep going.[2]

Word family

  • dētentātiō
  • dētentiō
  • detento
  • detentor
  • detentus

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  4. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  5. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
Cite this entry

“Detineo.” Etymologically, 16 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/detineo. Accessed 16 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·