v.
Pronunciation: di- ' t ā n, d ē -
Function: transitive verb
Etymology: Middle English deteynen, from Anglo-French deteign-, stem of detenir, modification of Latin detin ē re, from de- + ten ē re to hold ― more at THIN
Date: 15th century
1 : to hold or keep in or as if in custody < detain ed by the police for questioning>
2 obsolete : to keep back (as something due) : WITHHOLD
3 : to restrain especially from proceeding <was detain ed by a flat tire>
synonyms see KEEP , DELAY
– de · tain · ment \ -m ə nt \ noun