1. keep (someone) from proceeding; hold back: "she made to open the door, but he detained her"Similardelayhold upmake lateretardkeep (back)slow upslow downset backget bogged downhinderhamperimpedeobstruct
▪ keep (someone) in official custody, typically for questioning about a crime or in politically sensitive situations:"she was detained without trial for two years"
Word Originlate Middle English (in the sense ‘be afflicted with sickness or infirmity’): from Old French detenir, from a variant of Latin detinere, from de- ‘away, aside’ + tenere ‘to hold’.