retention

Noun

retention (countable and uncountable, plural retentions)

1. The act of retaining or something retained.
   • No woman's heart / So big, to hold so much; they lack retention.c. 1601–1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “Twelfe Night, or What You Will”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and...
2. The act or power of remembering things.
3. Memory; what is retained in the mind.
   • "Still," Suit echoed. "The way she handles the gun jamming." Suit shook their head in admiration. "Tap, rack, bang, without hesitation. That's extraordinary retention."2015 March 25, thedeadlymoose, “The Seed of an Idea”, in SCP Foundation, archived from the original on 01 Dec 2024
4. The involuntary withholding of urine and faeces.
5. The length of time a patient remains in treatment.
6. (obsolete) That which contains something, as a tablet; a means of preserving impressions.
   • Thy gift, thy tables, are within my brain
     Full character’d with lasting memory,
     […]
     That poor retention could not so much hold,
     Nor need I tallies thy dear love to score;1609, William Shakespeare, “Sonnet 122”, in Shake-speares Sonnets. […], London: By G[eorge] Eld for T[homas] T[horpe] and are to be sold by William Aspley, →OCLC
7. (obsolete) The act of withholding; restraint; reserve.
   • His life I gave him, and did thereto add / My love without retention or restraint,c. 1601–1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “Twelfe Night, or What You Will”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and...
8. (obsolete) A place of custody or confinement.
9. The right to withhold a debt, or of retaining property until a debt due to the person claiming the right is duly paid; a lien.
   • The right of retention, which bears a near resemblance to compensation, is chiefly competent where the mutual debts, not being liquid, cannot be the ground of compensation1754, John Erskine of Carnock, (Please provide the book title or journal name)
10. The portion of a potential damage that must be paid for by the holder of an insurance policy.