də̇ˈtān, dēˈ- transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English deteynen, from Middle French detenir, from Old French, from Latin detinēre, from de from, away + -tinēre (from tenēre to hold) — more at de- , thin
1. : to hold or keep in or as if in custody
detained by the police for questioning
2. archaic : to keep back (as something that is due) : withhold
3. : to restrain especially from proceeding : hold back : stop , delay
detained by an accident
4. : to hold the attention of
the introduction … will detain the reader as effectively as many of the selected passages that follow — British Book News
Synonyms: see delay , keep