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The state of holding something in the mind as a subject of contemplation, or of being inclined to reflect upon something; a state consciousness; conviction; feeling; impression. [Obs.] He retains vivid resentments of the more solid morality. Dr. H. More. It is a greater wonder that so many of them die, with so little r…

To draw back again; to hold back from acting, proceeding, or advancing, either by physical or moral force, or by any interposing obstacle; to repress or suppress; to keep down; to curb. Restrain in me the cursed thoughts that nature Gives way to in repose! Shak.

The act or process of restraining, or of holding back or hindering from motion or action, in any manner; hindrance of the will, or of any action, physical or mental. No man was altogether above the restrains of law, and no man altogether below its protection. Macaulay.

To continue to hold; to keep in possession; not to lose, part with, or dismiss; to retrain from departure, escape, or the like. "Thy shape invisibleretain." Shak. Be obedient, and retain Unalterably firm his love entire. Milton. An executor may retain a debt due to him from the testator. Blackstone.…

The power of retaining; retentiveness. No woman's heart So big, to hold so much; they lack retention. Shak.

The quality or state of being reticent, or keeping silence; the state of holding one's tonque; refraining to speak of that which is suggested; uncommunicativeness. Such fine reserve and noble reticence. Tennyson.

One of the annular ligaments which hold the tendons close to the bones at the larger joints, as at the wrist and ankle.

An instrument for holding apart the edges of a wound during amputation.

To hold back; to repress; to restrain. [Obs.] [She] still strove their sudden rages to revoke. Spenser.

A long, narrow strip of timber bent and bolted longitudinally to the ribs of a vessel, to hold them in position, and give rigidity to the framework. Rib-band lines, oblique longitudinal sectionss of the hull of a vessel. Knight.

An interior rib occasionally fixed in a ship's hold, reaching from the keelson to the beame of the lower deck, to strengthen her frame. Totten.

To hold ridottos. [R.] J. G. Cooper.

A trough or sluice having cleats, grooves, or steps across the bottom for holding quicksilver and catching particles of gold when auriferous earth is washed; also, one of the cleats, grooves, or steps in such a trough. Also called ripple.

Having the right or just claim according to established laws; being or holding by right; as, the rightful heir to a throne or an estate; a rightful king.

To practice making music with bells. Holder.

Held back; holding back; ritardando.

One who carries and holds a leveling staff, or rod, in a surveying party. G. W. Cable.

As much or many as a room will hold; as, a roomful of men. Swift.

To perform any act, function, or operation in turn, to hold office in turn; as, to rotate in office.

The handle by which the bed of a hand press, holding the form of type, etc., is run in under the platen and out again; -- sometimes applied to the whole apparatus by which the form is moved under the platen.