detenere

Detenere is an Italian transitive verb meaning to detain, to hold back, to restrain, or to possess. It has two primary senses in contemporary usage. In a legal or administrative context it means to detain or hold a person in custody, often temporarily, by authority. In general usage it can mean to retain or withhold something, or to hold back information, emotions, or physical objects.

Etymology: Detenere derives from Latin detinere, from de- “away” + tenere “to hold.” The form entered Italian in medieval times and is now common in formal writing and legal language as well as everyday speech.

Usage and examples: In law, one might say “detenere una persona in custodia” or “è stato detenuto dalla polizia.” In non-criminal contexts one can “detenere informazioni” (to withhold information) or “detenere i documenti” (to possess the documents). The verb is transitive and typically requires a direct object or a prepositional complement such as “in custodia” or “per un periodo.”

Conjugation and participation: Detenere is an -ere verb; its participle is detenuto, used with avere to form the passato prossimo: ho detenuto. The verb follows the standard -ere paradigm, with stem deten- and typical endings for Italian -ere verbs.

Relation: Detenere shares semantic space with such verbs as trattener e, arrestare, and conservare, but differs in nuance: detenere emphasizes the act of holding in custody or withholding rather than the act of arrest or keeping for long-term possession.