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| de·tain [ di táyn ] (past and past participle de·tained, present participle de·tain·ing, 3rd person present singular de·tains) |
transitive verb |
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| Definition: |
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1. delay progress: to hold back or delay somebody or something
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2. hold in custody: to restrain or keep somebody or something in custody
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| [15th century. Via Old French detenir< Latin detinere "hold back" < tenere "hold, keep"] |
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  de·tain·a·ble adjective |
| de·tain·ment noun |
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