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détenir
/de.tə.niʁ/
to hold or possess
Il détient une position importante dans l'entreprise.
He holds an important position in the company.
formal
To hold or possess something, often with authority or responsibility.
Le gouvernement détient les clés de la réforme.
The government holds the keys to reform.
Often used in legal or formal contexts to indicate possession or control.
Law
formal
To keep someone in custody or detention.
La police détient le suspect depuis hier.
The police have been holding the suspect since yesterday.
Used in legal contexts to describe detention.
Collocations
détenir une positionto hold a positiondétenir des informationsto hold informationdétenir quelqu'un en détentionto hold someone in detention
Antonyms
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Formal Usage
Use 'détenir' in formal or legal contexts to indicate possession or control.
Gold Rule
Legal Context
In legal contexts, 'détenir' often means to hold someone in custody.
Word Origin
From Old French 'detendre', from Latin 'detinere' (to hold back).
Usage Notes
Often used in formal or legal contexts to indicate possession or control. Can also refer to holding someone in custody.
Word Breakdown
dé-
intensive prefix
prefix-tenir
to hold
rootDictionnaire Français-Anglais