retain

verb

• 1continue to have (something); keep possession of:Labour retained the seat built in 1830, the house retains many of its original features
• not abolish or alter; maintain:the rights of defendants must be retained
• keep in one’s memory:I retained a few French words and phrases

• 2absorb and continue to hold (a substance):limestone is known to retain water

• 3 (often as adjective retaining) keep (something) in place; hold fixed:remove the retaining bar

• 4keep (someone) engaged in one’s service:he has been retained as a freelance
• secure the services of (a barrister) with a preliminary payment: retain a barrister to handle the client’s business