Detain
[dɪ'teɪn] or [dɪ'ten]
Definition
(v. t.) To keep back or from; to withhold.
(v. t.) To restrain from proceeding; to stay or stop; to delay; as, we were detained by an accident.
(v. t.) To hold or keep in custody.
(n.) Detention.
Typist: Mason
Synonyms and Synonymous
v. a. [1]. Restrain, stay, check, delay, retain, stop, keep back.[2]. Confine, hold in custody.
Typed by Edwina
Synonyms and Antonyms
SYN:Stay, keep, arrest, check, withhold, delay, restrain, embargo, stop
ANT:Liberate, expedite, accelerate, dismiss, loose, disembargo
Checker: Rita
Definition
v.t. to hold from or back: to stop: to keep: to keep in custody.—ns. Detain′er one who detains: (law) the holding of what belongs to another: a warrant to a sheriff to keep in custody a person already in confinement: Detain′ment (same as Detention).
Checker: Rowena
Examples
- Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. Arthur Conan Doyle. The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes.
- If these prisoners have not been allowed to depart, you will detain them until further orders. Ulysses S. Grant. Personal Memoirs of U. S. Grant.
- Home she would go; not even Robert could detain her now. Charlotte Bronte. Shirley.
- He might have spoken, but I did not hear; one hand was stretched out, seemingly to detain me, but I escaped, and rushed down stairs. Mary Shelley. Frankenstein_Or_The Modern Prometheus.
- And, I think, George, we had better not detain Mrs. Stepney any longer. Edith Wharton. The House of Mirth.
- She first assured him of her boundless confidence; of this he must be conscious, since but for that she would not seek to detain him. Mary Shelley. The Last Man.
- The constitution of Carthage[236] need not detain us long. H. G. Wells. The Outline of History_Being a Plain History of Life and Mankind.
- Although we were anxious to leave England before the depth of winter, yet we were detained. Mary Shelley. The Last Man.
- Who always received her on his disengaged arm, and detained her, while the patient cherub stood waiting to be finished. Charles Dickens. Our Mutual Friend.
- It would have been far better not to have detained me. Charles Dickens. Bleak House.
- It was not Miss Flite who detained us; she was as reasonable a little creature in consulting the convenience of others as there possibly could be. Charles Dickens. Bleak House.
- Raymond would follow soon, she said; he had been detained by business. Mary Shelley. The Last Man.
- Another packet arrived; she too was detained, and before we sailed a fourth was expected. Benjamin Franklin. Memoirs of Benjamin Franklin.
- The paymaster was detained in Austin so long that, if we had waited for him, we would have exceeded our leave. Ulysses S. Grant. Personal Memoirs of U. S. Grant.
- I wish you were not so tired, said he, still detaining Fanny after all the others were in the house--I wish I left you in stronger health. Jane Austen. Mansfield Park.
- What can be detaining Tan Gama? Edgar Rice Burroughs. The Gods of Mars.
- We had better move on, Mr. Weston, said she, we are detaining the girls. Jane Austen. Emma.
- Not yet, not yet,' said the young man, detaining her as she rose. Charles Dickens. Oliver Twist.
- Charley,' returned his sister, detaining his hand as he withdrew it, 'I think you had better stay. Charles Dickens. Our Mutual Friend.
- I can then speak to you as we walk, both without detaining you here, and without intruding longer here myself. Charles Dickens. Little Dorrit.
- You will not thank me for detaining you from the bewitching converse of that young lady, whose bright eyes are also upbraiding me. Jane Austen. Pride and Prejudice.
- Curiosity detains Mrs Veneering a few moments. Charles Dickens. Our Mutual Friend.
- How very kind Mr. Brooke is, and how fortunate that Mr. Laurence's business detains him near you so long, since he is so useful to you and Father. Louisa May Alcott. Little Women.
Checked by Clarice