See Also: detain(1)(dictionary)
detain(2)(dictionary)
detain(dictionary)
Detain(law)

detain (oh)



[Date: 1400-1500; Language: Old French; Origin: detenir, from Latin detinere, from tenere 'to hold']
to officially prevent someone from leaving a place
::Two suspects have been detained by the police for questioning .
::She was detained in hospital with a suspected broken leg.
[usually passive] formal to stop someone from leaving as soon as they expected
-synonym delay delay
::He was detained in Washington on urgent business.