unlawfully-retained
|un-law-ful-ly-re-tained|
/ʌnˈlɔːfəli rɪˈteɪnd/
(retain)
keep or hold
Etymology
'unlawfully-retained' originates from the combination of 'unlawful' and 'retain', where 'unlawful' means 'not conforming to, permitted by, or recognized by law' and 'retain' means 'to keep possession of'.
'Unlawfully-retained' combines the Middle English 'unlawful' and 'retain', which evolved from the Old French 'retenir'.
Initially, 'retain' meant 'to hold back or keep', and 'unlawful' meant 'not lawful'. Together, they evolved to describe something kept without legal right.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
kept or held in possession without legal right or authority.
The unlawfully-retained documents were eventually returned to their rightful owner.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/04/13 20:39