† retenance Obs.
Forms: 4 retyn-, retain-, 4–5 retenance. Also 4–5 -aunce, -auns, -awns.
[a. AF. retenaunce, OF. retenance, -ence, f. retenir to retain: see -ance.]
1. = retinue.
| 1362 Langl. P. Pl. A. ii. 35 Alle þis Riche Retenaunce þat Regneden with Fals Weoren bede to þe Bruyt-ale. 1390 Gower Conf. I. 212 He with al his retenance Ne mihte noght defende his lif. c 1400 Brut ccxviii. 258 And so he assemblede al his retynance [v.r. retenauntz], and went & spake vnto ham of þe Kyngus honour. c 1460 Wisdom 689 in Macro Plays 58 Now wyll we thre do make a dance Off thow þat longe to owur retanaunce. |
2. to or at (one's) retenance, at one's service or command.
| 1340–70 Alisaunder 154 Him..trulich to serue, For to wend at his wyll, whereso hym liked, And redy to his retainaunce ryght as hee wolde. c 1430 Hoccleve Min. Poems 71 The flessh, the world, & eek the feend my fo, My wittes alle han at hir retenance. c 1485 Digby Myst. (1882) iii. 362 As a kyng ryall I sette at my plesavns, with wroth and Invy at my ryall retynawns. |