retainer
/ɹɪˈteɪn.ɚ/
Word Rarity
Rare
Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.12 in modern English
8
Scrabble Score
8
Letters
3
Syllables
6
Unique Chars
Meaning
noun
A paid servant, especially one who has been employed for many years.
noun
A device that holds teeth in position after orthodontic treatment.
noun
Example Sentences
- "If they possessed the means to marshal labour, pile up food resources and provender armies of year-round retainers, what sort of royalty would consciously elect not to do so."
- "Of all this family lore I knew but little and vaguely; only what is to be gathered from the fireside talk of old retainers in the nursery."
- "This lawyer charges a retainer for his work."
- "You give me head / It makes it worse / Take out your fuckin' retainer / Put it in your purse"
- "I've known you since the third grade. I've hand-washed your retainer. I keep mint-flavored Oreos at the house for you."
Etymology
Etymology tree English retain Proto-Indo-European *-yósder. Proto-Italic *-āzios Latin -āriusnom. Latin -āriusbor. Proto-Germanic *-ārijaz Proto-West Germanic *-ārī Old English -ere Middle English -ere English -er English retainer From retain + -er.
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /ɹɪˈteɪn.ɚ/
- British English: /ɹɪˈteɪn.ə/