English

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Etymology

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

Pronunciation

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Adjective

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retentive (comparative more retentive, superlative most retentive)

  1. Having power to retain
    a retentive memory
    a soil that is highly retentive of rainwater
  2. (slang, apocope) anal-retentive

Derived terms

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Noun

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retentive (plural retentives)

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

References

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Italian

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Adjective

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retentive

  1. feminine plural of retentivo

Anagrams

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