Where does “retentive” come from?
Retentive comes from Middle French rétentif, from Old French retentif, from Medieval Latin retentivus, derived from Latin retentus, the past participle of retineo meaning to hold back or retain, formed from re- and a root descended from Proto-Indo-European ten- meaning to stretch or hold.
retentive (English): Having power to retain; anal-retentive; That...
Definitions
- Having power to retain; anal-retentive; That...
Ancestry of “retentive”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle French | rétentif | — |
| 2 | Old French | retentif | — |
| 3 | Medieval Latin | retentivus | — |
| 4 | Latin | retentus | restrained, delayed; repressed; held |
| 5 | Latin | retineō | to keep or hold back, detain, restrain, retain, confine, contain; delay |
| 6 | Latin | rĕ- | back, backwards |
| 7 | Latin | prōdūcō | to lead or bring forth, forward or out |
| 8 | Latin | prō- | forward direction, forward movement |
| 9 | Proto-Italic | *pro- | pro- see the Latin entry for further meanings |
| 10 | Proto-Indo-European | pro- | toward, forward |
| 11 | Proto-Indo-European | por- | to give birth; forward, through; going, passage |
| 12 | Proto-Indo-European | per- | before, in front; first; to go through |
| 13 | Proto-Indo-European | pr̥tós | passed , crossed |