retinue

retinue
\ \ [14] A retinue is etymologically ‘that which is retained’. The word was borrowed from Old French retenue, the feminine past participle of retenirkeep, restrain’ (source of English retain [14]). This in turn went back via Vulgar Latin *retenēre to Latin retinērehold back’, a compound verb formed from the prefix re- ‘back’ and tenērehold’ (source of English contain, obtain, etc). The notion behind retinue is of a body of men ‘retained’ in one’s service.
\ \ Another English descendant of retinēre is rein.
\ \ Cf.CONTAIN, DETAIN, OBTAIN, REIN, RETAIN

Word origins - 2ed. . 2005.

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  • Retinue — Ret i*nue, n. [OE. retinue, OF. retinue, fr. retenir to retain, engage, hire. See {Retain}.] The body of retainers who follow a prince or other distinguished person; a train of attendants; a suite. [1913 Webster] Others of your insolent retinue.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • retinue — (n.) late 14c., from O.Fr. retenue group of followers, state of service, lit. that which is retained, from fem. pp. of retenir to employ, to retain, hold back (see RETAIN (Cf. retain)) …   Etymology dictionary

  • retinue — ► NOUN ▪ a group of advisers or assistants accompanying an important person. ORIGIN from Old French retenir keep back, retain …   English terms dictionary

  • retinue — [ret′ n o͞o΄, ret′ nyo͞o΄] n. [ME retenue < OFr, fem. of retenu, pp. of retenir: see RETAIN] a body of assistants, followers, or servants attending a person of rank or importance; train of attendants or retainers …   English World dictionary

  • Retinue — A retinue is a body of persons retained in the service of a noble or royal personage, a suite (literal French meanings: what follows) of retainers. EtymologyThe word, recorded in English since circa 1375, stems from Old French retenue , itself… …   Wikipedia

  • retinue — ret|i|nue [ˈretınju: US nu:] n [Date: 1300 1400; : Old French; Origin: retenir; RETAIN] a group of people who travel with someone important to help and support them retinue of ▪ He travelled with a huge retinue of servants …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • retinue — [14] A retinue is etymologically ‘that which is retained’. The word was borrowed from Old French retenue, the feminine past participle of retenir ‘keep, restrain’ (source of English retain [14]). This in turn went back via Vulgar Latin *retenēre… …   The Hutchinson dictionary of word origins

  • retinue — [[t]re̱tɪnjuː, AM nuː[/t]] retinues N COUNT: usu with supp, oft N of n An important person s retinue is the group of servants, friends, or assistants who go with them and look after their needs. Mind trainers are now as much a part of a tennis… …   English dictionary

  • retinue — UK [ˈretɪnjuː] / US [ˈret(ə)nˌu] noun [countable] Word forms retinue : singular retinue plural retinues a group of people who travel with and look after an important or rich person …   English dictionary

  • retinue — retinued, adj. /ret n ooh , yooh /, n. a body of retainers in attendance upon an important personage; suite. [1325 75; ME retinue < MF, n. use of fem. ptp. of retenir to RETAIN] * * * …   Universalium

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