n. 1. The act of detaining. 2. The state or a period of being detained, especially: a. A period of temporary custody while awaiting trial. b. A holding of a person in custody or confinement by authorities for political or military reasons. c. A form of punishment by which a student is made to stay after regular school hours. [Middle English detencioun, act of withholding, from Anglo-Norman, from Latin dētentiō, dētentiōn-, from dētentus, past participle of dētinēre, to detain; see DETAIN.] |
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