retenir French · revision 17195

+ {{infobox|confidence=probable|formation=derivation|attested=c. 1050, Vie de saint Alexis|origins=la teneō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ʁə.t(ə).niʁ/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''retenir'''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ Rey, the Grand Robert and the GLLF take it as [[af|fr|re-|tenir]], formed on the model of [[la|retineō|t=to hold back; to keep; to restrain]], from [[m|la|re-|t=back]] and [[m|la|teneō|t=to hold]].^(DHLF 1992)^(Grand Robert 2005)^(GLLF 1989) Bloch and Wartburg, the Petit Robert and Wiktionary take it from the Latin verb, which developed in parallel with “tenir”.^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Wiktionary)^(FEW|10, 333b)

+

+ Compare [[it|ritenere]], [[pro|retener]], [[es|retener]] and [[pt|reter]].^(REW 1935)^(Littré 1873)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ In the ''Vie de saint Alexis'' (about 1050) it means to keep for oneself part of what one has received, ''tant an retint, dunt son cors en sustint'', and to reserve something for someone.^(TLFi)^(Littré 1873)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The ''Chanson de Roland'' (about 1100) uses it for taking someone into one's service and for keeping a prisoner, Wace (1155) for keeping someone near oneself, whence ''retenir à souper'' (1548) and Racine's ''je ne te retiens plus'' (1667).^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992) To fix in one's memory is found about 1165, to hold back a figure in a sum in the 13th century, and to book a room or a seat from the 14th.^(TLFi)^(Petit Robert 2007) In Old and Middle French it overlapped with ''tenir'', [[maintenir]], [[soutenir]] and [[entretenir]], and could mean “to conceive”; the 16th century brought it back closer to the Latin.^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ Robert Estienne (1538) has it for restraining one's feelings, as in ''retenir ses larmes'', and ''retenir son haleine''.^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992) With a thing as subject, ''retenir l'attention'' is found in 1559.^(DHLF 1992) In law ''retenir une cause'' is recorded by Furetière (1690).^(TLFi)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1050 – ''Vie de saint Alexis''.^(TLFi)

+ * c. 1100 – To keep in one's service; to hold captive, ''Chanson de Roland''.^(TLFi)

+ * c. 1165 – To remember, ''Roman de Troie''.^(TLFi)

+ * c. 1170 – ''Retenue''.^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)

+ * 13th century – To carry a figure in a sum.^(TLFi)

+ * 1538 – To restrain one's tears.^(TLFi)

+ * 1548 – ''Retenir à souper''.^(TLFi)

+ * 1667 – ''Je ne te retiens plus'', Racine.^(TLFi)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To hold back, keep from moving or falling: ''retenir quelqu'un par le bras'', ''retenir l'eau''.^(Larousse)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To keep, [[m|en|detain]]; to keep someone with oneself: ''je ne vous retiens pas''.^(Wiktionary)^(DHLF 1992)

+ # To keep back, deduct: ''retenir une somme sur le salaire''.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Le Robert)

+ # To [[m|en|reserve]], book: ''retenir une chambre'', ''retenir une date''.^(Petit Robert 2007)

+ # To [[m|en|remember]]: ''retenir une leçon''; in arithmetic, to carry.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Wiktionary)^(TLFi)

+ # To restrain, suppress: ''retenir ses larmes'', ''son souffle''.^(TLFi)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To accept, adopt: ''retenir une proposition'', ''(law)'' to uphold: ''retenir un chef d'accusation''.^(Wiktionary)^(GLLF 1989)

+ # ''Se retenir'': to hold on; to restrain oneself: ''se retenir de rire''.^(DHLF 1992)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[retenue]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[rétention]]

+ * [[tenir]]

+ * [[la|retineō]]

+ * [[en|retain]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}