retainer

retain +‎ -er

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ɹɪˈteɪn.ə/

  • Audio (Southern England)

    (file)

• (General American) IPA^(key): /ɹɪˈteɪn.ɚ/, /ɹəˈteɪn.ɚ/
• Rhymes: -eɪnə(ɹ)

retainer (plural retainers)

1. Any thing or person that retains.
2. A dependent or follower of someone of rank.
   • 2021 October 19, David Graeber, David Wengrowr, “Unfreezing the ice age: the truth about humanity’s deep past”, in The Guardian, UK:

     If they possessed the means to marshal labour, pile up food resources and provender armies of year-round retainers, what sort of royalty would consciously elect not to do so.

3. A paid servant, especially one who has been employed for many years.
4. A fee one pays to reserve the other's time for services.

   This lawyer charges a retainer for his work.

5. (dentistry) A device that holds teeth in position after orthodontic treatment.
   • 1981, “Too Drunk to Fuck”, performed by Dead Kennedys:

     You give me head / It makes it worse / Take out your fuckin' retainer / Put it in your purse

6. (rail transport, mechanical engineering) A retaining valve.

• general retainer
• special retainer

• brace

• Arretine, Eretrian, Eritrean, Renteria, rain tree, rain-tree, raintree