Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

detain

/dɪˈteɪn/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: 3.21 in modern English

Syllables: de-tain
IPA: /dɪˈteɪn/

7

Scrabble Score

6

Letters

2

Syllables

6

Unique Chars

Meaning

verb

To keep something from proceeding or coming to completion; to delay.

Transitive verb

verb

To keep someone from proceeding by holding them back or making claims on their attention.

Transitive verb

verb

To keep back or from; to withhold.

Archaic; Transitive verb

verb

To put someone under custody.

Transitive verb

verb

To seize goods for official purposes.

Transitive verb

Example Sentences

"Detain not the wages of the hireling: […]"
"Upon which account ’tis that the Juice of ripe pulpy Apples, as Pippins, Rennetings, &c. that are of a ſyrupy tenacious nature, do detain in them more of the diſperſed particles of the Fruit that by the Preſſure comes out with the Liquor; […]"
"In April of 2009, however, the disease was found to suddenly no longer be appearing in newly-hatched chickens, and, upon review, it was discovered that Dr. Wildcat had modified 6002 without authorization, removing the disease from the genome. She's detained and questioned by Muller, and, even though she tries to lie that she didn't do anything, they have footage of her ascending the tree on her own."

Etymology

From Old French detenir. Doublet of détente. Cognate with Italian detenere, Portuguese deter, Romanian deține, and Spanish detener.

Word Breakdown

Root: *ten-

Regional Pronunciation

British English: /dɪˈteɪn/

Usage

Inflected Forms

detains (present, singular) detaining (participle, present) detained (participle, past) detained (past)

Derived Forms

detainable detainee detainer detainingly detainment detention redetain

Synonyms

delay hinder impede retard hold back hold up stay confine

Rhymes With

main pain campaign train brain explain remain gain plane rain chain maintain

Questions

How do you pronounce detain?: The recorded pronunciation is /dɪˈteɪn/.
What does detain mean?: To keep something from proceeding or coming to completion; to delay.
Where does detain come from?: From Old French detenir. Doublet of détente. Cognate with Italian detenere, Portuguese deter, Romanian deține, and Spanish detener.

How to pronounce detain

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