People or devices that hold something in place or keep something; also can mean payments to keep someone available for future work.
From Old French 'retenir' meaning 'to hold back.' The suffix '-er' creates 'one who retains,' and '-s' makes it plural.
Medieval kings kept retainers—loyal followers they paid to stay nearby and defend them—making 'retainer' one of the oldest words for what we'd now call a security team or personal staff!
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