retainer

noun — 6 senses

retainer

noun

UK /ɹɪˈteɪn.ə/ · US /ɹɪˈteɪn.ɚ/

Etymology From retain + -er.

1

Any thing or person that retains.

2

A dependent or follower of someone of rank.

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.2021 October 19, David Graeber, David Wengrowr, “Unfreezing the ice age: the truth about humanity’s deep past”, in The Guardian, UK:

3

A paid servant, especially one who has been employed for many years.

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.1865, Sheridan Le Fanu, Uncle Silas:

4

A fee one pays to reserve the other's time for services.

This lawyer charges a retainer for his work.

5

Dentistry, Medicine, Sciences A device that holds teeth in position after orthodontic treatment.

You give me head / It makes it worse / Take out your fuckin' retainer / Put it in your purse1981, “Too Drunk to Fuck”, performed by Dead Kennedys:

6

Engineering, Mechanical, Mechanical engineering, Natural sciences, Physical sciences, Rail transport, Railways, Transport A retaining valve.

Derived terms: general retainer, retainerless, retainership, special retainer
Related terms: brace

Entry derived from the Wiktionary, under licence CC BY-SA 4.0 — list of authors.