detention
/dɪˈtɛnʃn̩/
Word Rarity
Rare
Frequency: 3.96 in modern English
10
Scrabble Score
9
Letters
3
Syllables
6
Unique Chars
Meaning
Example Sentences
- "Detain not the wages of the hireling: for every degree of detention of it beyond the time is injuſtice, and uncharitableneſs, and grindes his face til tears and blood come out: […]"
- "In the case of rail-borne traffic, permission is given to each sender to load and forward his traffic so that it will be available for loading into the vessel with a minimum of detention to wagons, unless arrangements have been made for the traffic to be put into store to await the arrival of the ship."
- ""[…] On the 18th of October, 1841, a very intense magnetic disturbance was recorded, and amongst other curious facts mentioned is that of the detention of the 10:05pm express train at Exeter for 16 minutes, as from the magnetic disturbance affecting the needles so powerfully, it was impossible to ascertain if the line was clear at Starcross. The superintendent at Exeter reported the next morning that someone was playing tricks with the instruments, and would not let them work.""
- "be stuck in detention"
- "Now, for slacking off in class and for having a serious attitude problem, your punishment is two weeks in detention, with me, starting this afternoon."
Etymology
Borrowed from Middle French détention, from Latin detentio, detentionem. Equivalent to detain + -tion.