detain

Verb
Synonyms: confinestaydelayhold up

WordNet 3.0

Verb (3)

  1. deprive of freedom; take into confinementSynonyms: confine
  2. stop or halt“Please stay the bloodshed!”Synonyms: staydelay
  3. cause to be slowed down or delayed“Traffic was delayed by the bad weather”“she delayed the work that she didn't want to perform”Synonyms: delayhold up
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Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

Detain \De*tain"\, n. Detention. [Obs.] --Spenser. [1913 Webster]
Detain \De*tain"\ (d[-e]*t[=a]n"), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Detained; p. pr. & vb. n. Detaining.] [F. d['e]tenir, L. detinere, detentum; de + tenere to hold. See Tenable.]

1.To keep back or from; to withhold. [1913 Webster]

Detain not the wages of the hireling.— Jer. Taylor.[1913 Webster]

2.To restrain from proceeding; to stay or stop; to delay; as, we were detained by an accident. [1913 Webster]

Let us detain thee, until we shall have made ready a kid for thee.— Judges xiii. 15.[1913 Webster]

3.To hold or keep in custody.

Syn: To withhold; retain; stop; stay; arrest; check; retard; delay; hinder. [1913 Webster]

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