Etymologically
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retentio

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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