Webster's English Dictionary

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retention

re.ten.tion \ri-'ten-ch*n\ n [ME retencioun, fr. L retention-, retentio, 
   fr. retentusX, pp. of retine-re to retain - more at RETAIN 1a: the act of 
   retaining : the state of being retained  1b: abnormal retaining of a fluid 
   or secretion in a body cavity  2a: power of retaining : RETENTIVENESS  2b: 
   an ability to retain things in mind : MEMORY  3: something retained