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- Retient - meaning & definition
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Translate Files Retient (en. Holds back)
/ʁə.tjɛ̃/
Meaning & Definition
EnglishFrench
verb
To maintain or keep something.
She holds her breath before diving.
Elle retient son souffle avant de plonger.
To remember something important.
He remembers the lessons learned from his mistakes.
Il retient les leçons apprises de ses erreurs.
To divert attention or ensure that something does not escape.
He holds the interest of his audience thanks to his charisma.
Il retient l'intérêt de son public grâce à son charisme.
Etymology
From the Latin verb 'retinere', which means to keep, to retain.
Common Phrases and Expressions
to hold one's breath
To take a breathing pause, often in anticipation.
retenir son souffle
to hold someone back
To prevent someone from leaving or progressing.
retenir quelqu'un
to hold attention
To capture someone's interest.
retenir l'attention
Related Words
to retain
Action of keeping or maintaining something.
retenir
retained
Quality of a person who is discreet or reserved.
retenu
to resound
To make a noise, to be heard.
retentir
Slang Meanings
To take something under one's elbow
He kept a joke under his elbow for the next meeting.
Il a retenu une blague sous le coude pour la prochaine réunion.
To have something in mind
She retained her friend's idea for her project.
Elle a retenu l'idée de son ami pour son projet.