retentive

Hello, you have come here looking for the meaning of the word retentive. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word retentive, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say retentive in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word retentive you have here. The definition of the word retentive will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition ofretentive, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.

English

Etymology

Borrowed from Middle French rétentif, from Old French retentif, from Medieval Latin retentivus, from Latin retentus.

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /ɹɪˈtɛntɪv/
Audio (Southern England) (file)

Adjective

retentive (comparative more retentive, superlative most retentive)

Having power to retain
a retentive memory

a soil that is highly retentive of rainwater
- 1599 (first performance), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Iulius Cæsar”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies (First Folio), London: Isaac Iaggard, and Ed Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, :
  Nor airless dungeon, nor strong links of iron, Can be retentive to the strength of spirit.
(slang, apocope) anal-retentive

Derived terms

Related terms

English terms derived from the Proto-Indo-European root *ten-‎ (1 c, 60 e)

Noun

retentive (plural retentives)

(obsolete) That which retains or confines; a restraint.

References

“retentive”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.

Italian

Adjective

retentive

feminine plural of retentivo

Anagrams

trivenete

Wikious

Boobota

Sagapedia