Added 9 October 2026
detain
/dɪˈteɪn/ verb
In Latin: dētineō Wiktionary
verb Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about detain at Wordnik → Where our words come from →
- To keep something from proceeding or coming to completion; to delay.
- To keep someone from proceeding by holding them back or making claims on their attention.
- To keep back or from; to withhold.
Origin
From Old French detenir. Doublet of détente. Cognate with Italian detenere, Portuguese deter, Romanian deține, and Spanish detener.
From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)