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retentio

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Etymology and origin of the Latin word retentio

Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
81–43 BC, Cicero
Ultimate origin
Latin retineō
Etymology tree
inherited borrowed derived
Latin retineo
Italian ritenere
Latin retentio
From the same root
Latin retento ← retineo
Latin retina ← retineo
Latin retinaculum ← retineo

Pronunciation

  • Classical: [rɛˈtɛn.ti.oː][1]
  • Ecclesiastical: [reˈtɛn.t͡si.o][1]

Forms

retentiō f (genitive retentiōnis); third declension[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin retineō (“to hold back, keep”) + -tiō, formed on the stem of its past participle.[2][3] The verb is formed from re- and teneō (“to hold, grasp”).[4][3] De Vaan explains the simple verb as a stative present to the root Proto-Indo-European *ten- (“to stretch”), reconstructing Proto-Italic *t(e)nē- and *tn-eh₁- (“to hold”).[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first found in Cicero (81–43 BC),[5] who reports in a letter that Carneades likened the suspension of judgement, Greek epochē, to a charioteer's holding back, retentio aurigae.[2][6][7]

Semantic evolution

Cicero also renders the same sceptical term as retentio assensionis, the withholding of assent,[6][7] and uses the word for holding back part of a payment.[6][7][8] In the jurists of the Digest it is the keeping of property in one's possession, and the right to keep it to cover expenses or losses.[2][6][7] Christian writers used it for preservation and maintenance: Lactantius of fellowship, Tertullian of the old discipline;[6][8] Tertullian's retentio delicti is the not forgiving of a sin, the opposite of remissiō.[6][7] Caelius Aurelianus uses it in medicine for the retention of urine.[6][8]

In medieval Latin it also meant restraint, as when clemency is called the holding back of a mind rashly roused to hatred, and it stayed a medical term.[9] Documents cited by Du Cange use it for the troops a prince keeps in his service, for a reservation or protest made in court, for the right of a lord or kinsman to buy back land that has been sold, for a pasture where mowing is forbidden, for a due paid to a lord, and for the upkeep of buildings.[10] English took it over in the late 14th century, first of fluids kept in the body; the sense of keeping things in the mind followed in the late 15th century.[3] Italian has ritenzione from it.[8]

Timeline

  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it for a charioteer's holding back and for the suspension of judgement.[2][6][5]
  • c. 160–220 – Tertullian uses it of preserving the old discipline and of not forgiving a sin.[6][7][5]
  • c. 250–317 – Lactantius uses it of preserving fellowship.[6][5]
  • 5th century – Caelius Aurelianus uses it of the retention of urine.[6][8][5]
  • 533 – The Digest uses it for keeping property and the right of retention.[2][6][5]
  • 1176 – A charter of Aimeric of Narbonne uses it for a due.[10]
  • 1290 – A charter uses it for the upkeep of buildings.[10]
  • late 14th century – English borrows it as retention.[3]

Meanings

Noun

  1. The act of restraining or holding back;[2][6][7] retentio assensionis, suspension of judgement.[2][6][7]
  2. A withholding of payment or the like.[2][8]
  3. Keeping in one's possession, retention;[2][6][7] (law) the right to keep property to cover expenses or losses.[2][6][7]
  4. Preservation, maintenance;[6][7] retentio delicti, the not forgiving of a sin.[6][7]
  5. (medicine) Retention of urine.[6][8][9]
  6. (Medieval Latin) A retinue, troops kept in a prince's service.[10]
  7. (Medieval Latin, law) A reservation or protest made in court; the right of a lord or kinsman to buy back sold land.[10]
  8. (Medieval Latin) A pasture closed to mowing; a due paid to a lord; the upkeep of buildings.[10]

References

  1. ^ a b c Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b c d Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  4. ^ a b de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
  5. ^ a b c d e f Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Georges, Karl Ernst (1913–1918), Ausführliches lateinisch-deutsches Handwörterbuch, 8th ed., ed. Heinrich Georges, Hannover; Leipzig: Hahn
  8. ^ a b c d e f g Conte, Gian Biagio; Pianezzola, Emilio; Ranucci, Giuliano (2010), il Latino: Vocabolario della lingua latina, 3rd ed., Florence: Le Monnier
  9. ^ a b Latham, R. E., D. R. Howlett, R. K. Ashdowne, et al. (1975–2013), Dictionary of Medieval Latin from British Sources, London: British Academy / Oxford University Press
  10. ^ a b c d e f du Cange, Charles du Fresne, et al. (1883–1887), Glossarium mediae et infimae latinitatis, augmented ed. by Léopold Favre, Niort: L. Favre
Cite this entry

“Retentio.” Etymologically, 24 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/retentio. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

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