/ dɪˈteɪn; NAmE / verb [ vn ]
1.
to keep sb in an official place, such as a police station, a prison or a hospital, and prevent them from leaving :
One man has been detained for questioning.
2.
( formal ) to delay sb or prevent them from going somewhere :
I'm sorry—he'll be late; he's been detained at a meeting.
—see also detention
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WORD ORIGIN
late Middle English (in the sense be afflicted with sickness or infirmity ): from Old French detenir , from a variant of Latin detinere , from de- away, aside + tenere to hold.