n. One who or that which retains.n. One who is kept in service; a dependent; an attendant; especially, a follower who wears his master's livery, but ranks higher than a domestic.n. A sutler, camp-follower, or any person serving with an army who, though not enlisted, is subject to orders according to the rules and articles of war.n. One who is connected with or frequents a certain place; an attendant.n. The act of retaining dependents; entrance into service as a retainer; the state of being a retainer.n. That by which a person's services are secured; a fee.n. Specifically, in law:n. Same as retaining fee (which see, under fee).n. An authority given to an attorney or a solicitor to proceed in an actionn. The unlawful taking or detention of a known servant from his master during the period of service.n. The act of an executor or administrator who is a creditor of the decedent, or whose estate he represents, in withholding from the fund so much as will pay what is due him: formerly allowed to be done even before any other creditors whose debts were of equal degree were paid.