detenevano

Detenevano is the third-person plural imperfect indicative form of the Italian verb detenere, meaning to detain, to hold back, or to possess. In this sense the form expresses a past action or state that was ongoing or habitual, such as possession, custody, or detention in a historical or narrative context. For example, detenevano documenti segreti would translate to they were holding or possessing secret documents.

Etymology and meaning: detenere derives from the Latin detinere, formed by de- plus tenere (to hold). In Italian, detenere covers senses related to detaining people, keeping objects, or maintaining control or custody over something.

Usage notes: The imperfect detenevano is commonly used in legal, historical, or literary writing to describe authorities’ custody of persons or items, or to describe a situation in which individuals or items were under detention. The verb is relatively formal; in everyday speech speakers might opt for tenere (to hold) or other synonyms depending on nuance. The infinitive detenere and related nouns such as detenzione (detention, custody) or detentore (holder) are part of the same lexical field.

Conjugation overview: The relevant imperfect forms are io detenevo, tu detenevi, lui/lei deteneva, noi detenevamo, voi detenevate, loro detenevano. The verb also forms all other tenses regularly, with detengo in the present, detieni in the you form, and detengono in the third plural, among others.

See also: detenere, detenzione, detentore, detainer language in legal contexts.