Retainer

Definitions

1. Any thing or person that retains.
2. A dependent or follower of someone of rank.
3. A paid servant, especially one who has been employed for many years.
4. A fee one pays to reserve the other's time for services.
5. A device that holds teeth in position after orthodontic treatment.
6. A retaining valve.

Equivalents

Examples

“If they possessed the means to marshal labour, pile up food resources and provender armies of year-round retainers, what sort⟳ of royalty would consciously elect⟳ not to do so.”

“Of all this family lore I knew but little and vaguely; only what is to be gathered from the fireside talk⟳ of old retainers in the nursery.”

“This lawyer charges a retainer for his work⟳.”

“You give⟳ me head / It makes it worse / Take⟳ out your fuckin' retainer / Put⟳ it in your purse”

CEFR level