retinue
UK[ˈret.ɪ.njuː]US[ˈret.ə.nuː]
n
a group of people who travel with and work for an important person
Etymology
the word entered english in the late 14th century from the old french 'retenue', meaning "a group of followers, a household". this old french term was the feminine past participle of 'retenir', "to retain, keep back", which itself derives from latin 'retinēre', meaning "to hold back, detain". the latin verb is a compound of 're-' (back) and 'tenēre' (to hold). the semantic journey moved from the literal act of holding someone back in service, to the state of being retained in service, and finally to the collective noun for the body of persons so retained by a sovereign or noble.
Analysis
the word is a simplex loanword from french. it is not productively segmented into meaningful sub-parts in modern english spelling.
Examples
the president arrived with a large retinue of aides and security personnel.
in medieval times, a lord's retinue was a sign of his power and status.
the celebrity was seldom seen without her retinue of stylists and assistants.