retention
UK[rɪˈtɛnʃ(ə)n]US[rɪˈtɛnʃ(ə)n]
n
The act of keeping something or the state of being kept.
n
The ability to remember things.
Morpheme Breakdown
re
tent
ion
re
again/back
tent
hold
ion
noun suffix
Etymology
The word "retention" has a clear and logical construction tracing back to Latin. It is built on the verb tenēre, meaning "to hold", which itself derives from the Proto-Indo-European root ten-, meaning "to stretch, extend". The prefix re-, meaning "back" or "again", adds a sense of holding something back or keeping it in place. Combined with the noun-forming suffix -ion, the literal meaning "a holding back" evolved into the modern abstract senses of maintaining possession, continuing to employ someone, or the faculty of keeping facts in one's mind.
Analysis
Structure: re (again/back) + tent (hold) + ion (noun suffix)
re: Latin origin, a prefix meaning "again" or "back".
tent: From Latin tent- (stem of tenēre, to hold).
ion: Latin suffix -ionem, forming nouns of action or state.
Examples
The company's employee retention rate has improved significantly this year.
Water retention can be a side effect of certain medications.
The course focuses on improving memory and information retention.