Category:Detain

De*tain", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Detained; p. pr. & vb. n. Detaining.] Etym: [F. détenir, L. detinere, detentum; de + tenere to hold. See Tenable.]

1. To keep back or from; to withhold. Detain not the wages of the hireling. Jer. Taylor.

2. To restrain from proceeding; to stay or stop; to delay; as, we were detained by an accident. Let us detain thee, until we shall have made ready a kid for thee. Judges xiii. 15.

3. To hold or keep in custody.

Syn. -- To withhold; retain; stop; stay; arrest; check; retard; delay; hinder.

detain De*tain", n.

Defn: Detention. [Obs.] Spenser.