Search the Dictionary

That which is retained. Hickok.

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

Having power to retain; as, a retentive memory. Nor airless dungeon, nor strong links of iron, Can be retentive to the strength of spirit. Shak.

In a retentive manner.

The quality of being retentive.

The power of retaining; retentive force; as, the retentivity of a magnet.

A muscle which serves to retain an organ or part in place, esp. when retracted. See Illust. of Phylactolemata.

Want of retaining power; forgetfulness. De Quincey.

Not retentive; as, an irretentive memory.

Fitted for trial beforehand; experimental. [R.] Sir H. Wotton.

Full of pretension; disposed to lay claim to more than is one's; presuming; assuming. -- Pre*ten"tious*ly, adv. -- Pre*ten"tious*ness, n.

The quality of being ambitious; ambition; pretentiousness.

Retention or suppression of the menstrual discharge.

To be arrogant or pretentious; to claim more than is due. Bp. Burnet.

Pretentious; taking much upon one's self; presumptuous. Burke.

Brisk; full of spirits; boasting; pretentious; conceited. [Arhaic] A brag young fellow. B. Jonson.

To use pretentious language, barbarous jargon, or technical termes; to talk with an affectation of learning. The doctor here, When he discqurseth of dissection, Of vena cava and of vena porta, The meseræum and the mesentericum, What does he else but cant. B. Jonson That uncouth affected garb of speech, or canting hangu…

A small circumscribed tumor of the eyelid caused by retention of secretion, and by inflammation of the Melbomian glands.

Of or like a charlatan; making undue pretension; empirical; pretentious; quackish. -- Char`la*tan"ic*al*ly, adv.

An unnatural retention of the fecal matter of the bowels; constipation.