retentive
nounEtymology Borrowed from Middle French rétentif, from Old French retentif, from Medieval Latin retentivus, from Latin retentus.
1
Obsolete That which retains or confines; a restraint.
retentive
adj/ɹɪˈtɛntɪv/
Etymology Borrowed from Middle French rétentif, from Old French retentif, from Medieval Latin retentivus, from Latin retentus.
1
Having power to retain.
- a soil that is highly retentive of rainwater
- Nor airless dungeon, nor strong links of iron, Can be retentive to the strength of spirit.1599 (first performance), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Iulius Cæsar”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene iii]:
1 more example
- 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.1914, Ernest Bramah, Max Carrados:
2
Apocopic, Slang Anal-retentive.
- Derived terms
- anal retentive, anal-retentive, gastroretentive, irretentive, nonretentive, retentively, retentiveness, retentivity, stereoretentive, unretentive