To retain
Example: The company retains employees by offering better conditions
Definition
"To retain" means to keep possession of something or continue to have it. In the example phrase, it refers to a company keeping its employees by providing better working conditions, ensuring they do not leave or lose them over time.
Etymology
The verb "to retain" comes from the Latin word 'retinere,' which combines 're-' meaning 'back' and 'tenere' meaning 'to hold.' So, it literally means 'to hold back' or 'to keep.' Did you know? The root 'tenere' is also the source of many English words related to holding or keeping, like 'tenacious' and 'tenant.'
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"To retain" appears in the Vocaplus list "English - General - (B1) - set 2", containing 113 commonly used words.
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