retainer 1
— retainership , n.
/ri tay"neuhr/ , n.
1. a person or thing that retains.
2. a servant or attendant who has served a family for many years.
3. Also called cage, separator . Mach. a ring separating, and moving with, balls or rollers in a bearing.
4. Orthodontics.
a. a fixed or removable device worn in the mouth to hold the teeth in their new position during the adaptive period after straightening appliances have been removed.
b. Prosthodontics. a part on a bridge or the like by which the bridge is attached to the natural teeth.
[ 1530-40; RETAIN + -ER 1 ]
retainer 2
/ri tay"neuhr/ , n.
1. the act of retaining in one's service.
2. the fact of being so retained.
3. a fee paid to secure services, as of a lawyer.
[ 1425-75; late ME reteinir, prob. n. use of MF retenir to RETAIN ]