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-- used in contradiction to retention, which signifies that the secretion or excretion is retained without expulsion. Quain.

Certain to find or retain; as, to be sure of game; to be sure of success; to be sure of life or health.

A rope used to retain the bars of the capstan in their sockets while men are turning it.

Holding fast, or inclined to hold fast; inclined to retain what is in possession; as, men tenacious of their just rights.

As a conjunction, that retains much of its force as a demonstrative pronoun. It is used, specifically: --

An apparatus for conveying heat, as a case containing material which retains its heat for a considerable period.

Of or retaining to thermotaxis.

t when the thing itself no longer exists; remains; token; vestige. The shady empire shall retain no trace Of war or blood, but in the sylvan chase. Pope.

onsonant. The true primary vowel sound of U, in Anglo-Saxon, was the sound which it still retains in most of the languages of Europe, that of long oo, as in tool, and short oo, as in wood, answering to the French ou in tour. Etymologically U is most closely related to o, y (vowel), w, and v; as in two, duet, dyad, twic…

ptacle, or pouch, connected with the oviducts of many invertebrates in which the eggs are retained until they hatch or until the embryos develop more or less. See Illust. of Hermaphrodite in Append.

ome soft or flexible material, such as hay, straw, tow, paper, or old rope yarn, used for retaining a charge of powder in a gun, or for keeping the powder and shot close; also, to diminish or avoid the effects of windage. Also, by extension, a dusk of felt, pasteboard, etc., serving a similar purpose.…

our feet long. They have a special cavity over the gills lined with a membrane adapted to retain moisture to aid in respiration, and are thus able to travel considerable distances over the land at night, whence the name. They construct a curious nest for their young. Called also langya. -- Walking gentleman (Theater),…

warp or webs for the weaver. Craig. Warping bank, a bank of earth raised round a field to retain water let in for the purpose of enriching land. Craig. -- Warping hook, a hook used by rope makers for hanging the yarn on, when warping it into hauls for tarring. -- Warping mill, a machine for warping yarn. -- Warping…

So tight as to retain, or not to admit, water; not leaky.

A plate the film of which retains its sensitiveness only while wet. The film used in such plates is of collodion impregnated with bromides and iodides. Before exposure the plate is immersed in a solution of silver nitrate, and immediately after exposure it is developed and fixed.

terial, for the neck and chin, formerly worn by women as an outdoor protection, and still retained in the dress of nuns. Full seemly her wympel ipinched is. Chaucer. For she had laid her mournful stole aside, And widowlike sad wimple thrown away. Spenser. Then Vivian rose, And from her brown-locked head the wimple thro…

sergeant of meek demeanor and strong sense." Dickens. He bore his age well, and seemed to retain a wiry vigor and alertness. Hawthorne.

To retain; to keep back; not to grant; as, to withhold assent to a proposition. Forbid who will, none shall from me withhold Longer thy offered good. Milton.

A servant; a retainer. [Obs.] A yeman hadde he and servants no mo. Chaucer.