How do you pronounce retentive?

The recorded pronunciation is /ɹɪˈtɛntɪv/.

retentive

/ɹɪˈtɛntɪv/

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 2.22 in modern English

Syllables: re-ten-tive
IPA: /ɹɪˈtɛntɪv/

Scrabble Score

Letters

Syllables

Unique Chars

Meaning

adj

Having power to retain.

adj

Anal-retentive.

Slang

noun

That which retains or confines; a restraint.

Obsolete

Example Sentences

"a soil that is highly retentive of rainwater"
"Nor airless dungeon, nor strong links of iron, Can be retentive to the strength of spirit."
"Mr Carlyle smiled his indulgence privately. "My dear chap, you mustn't let your retentive memory of obscure happenings run away with you," he remarked wisely."

Etymology

Borrowed from Middle French rétentif, from Old French retentif, from Medieval Latin retentivus, from Latin retentus.

Origin

Source language: Middle French

Word Breakdown

Root: *ten-, rétentif, retentif, retentivus, retentus

Usage

Inflected Forms

more retentive (comparative) most retentive (superlative) retentives (plural)

Derived Forms

gastroretentive irretentive nonretentive retentively retentiveness retentivity stereoretentive unretentive

Phrases

anal retentive anal-retentive

Synonyms

recollective long tenacious