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—retentively, adv. —retentiveness, n./ri ten"tiv/, adj.1. tending or serving to retain something.2. having power or capacity to retain.3. having power or ability to remember; having a good memory.
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Universalium. 2010.
retentive
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Retentive — Re*ten tive, a. [Cf. F. r[ e]tentif.] Having power to retain; as, a retentive memory. [1913 Webster] Nor airless dungeon, nor strong links of iron, Can be retentive to the strength of spirit. Shak. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
retentive — [ri ten′tiv] adj. [ME retentif < MFr < LL retentivus] 1. retaining or tending to retain 2. having the power of or capacity for retaining 3. a) tenacious [a retentive memory] b) having a good memory retentively … English World dictionary
Retentive — Re*ten tive, n. That which retains or confines; a restraint. [R.] Bp. Hall. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
retentive — (adj.) late 14c., from O.Fr. retentif, from L. pp. stem of retinere (see RETAIN (Cf. retain)) … Etymology dictionary
retentive — ► ADJECTIVE 1) (of a person s memory) effective in retaining facts and impressions. 2) able to retain or hold in place. DERIVATIVES retentively adverb retentiveness noun retentivity noun … English terms dictionary
retentive — adjective Etymology: Middle English retentif, from Anglo French & Medieval Latin; Anglo French, from Medieval Latin retentivus, from Latin retentus, past participle of retinēre Date: 14th century having the power, property, or capacity of… … New Collegiate Dictionary
retentive — adjective Having power to retain; as, a retentive memory. Nor airless dungeon, nor strong links of iron, Can be retentive to the strength of spirit. Shak … Wiktionary
retentive — [[t]rɪte̱ntɪv[/t]] ADJ GRADED: usu ADJ n If you have a retentive memory, you are able to remember things very well. Luke was very quick and had an amazingly retentive memory … English dictionary
retentive — re·ten·tive ri ten tiv adj tending to retain: as a) retaining knowledge: having a good memory <a retentive mind> b) of, relating to, or being a dental retainer … Medical dictionary
retentive — adj. Retentive is used with these nouns: ↑memory … Collocations dictionary
retentive — re|ten|tive [rıˈtentıv] adj a retentive memory or mind is able to hold facts and remember them →↑anal >retentiveness n [U] … Dictionary of contemporary English
