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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1990 (DOST Vol. VII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Retenew, -tenu, n. Also: ra- and -ten(n)ew(e, -tenwe, -teneu; -tinew, -tynew; -tynie. [ME and e.m.E. retenue (Gower), -tinue, -tenew, OF retenue, fem. of retenu, p.p. of retenir Retene v.The usual stressing in the 16–18th centuries appears to have been reti'nue.]

1. The fact of being retained for financial or other return in the service of another; a dependent relationship in which one person assures another of his support when this is called for, and is rewarded in return for such assurance. Also attrib. with -man.Of (one's) retenu, in (his) service.To be in (one's) retenu, to be in his service. To mak (one's) retenu with, to take service with.(1) a1400 Leg. S. xl 1103.
Ymang vthire ane thar wes That of retenu wes … Of that land til a mychtty man 1408 Slater Early Sc. Texts No. 70.
That thai salbe oblist of speciale duelling and retenew til our saide lorde the gouuernour 1561 Q. Kennedy Compendious Ressonyng (ed.) 181 (G).
Confessand … tham selfis oppinlie to be off his [sc. Christ's] retenwe and falloschype 1578 Reg. Privy C. II 696.
Nor of na utheris of thair retenew and dependence(b) a1500 Rauf C. 775.
Sextie squyaris of fee, Of his retinew to be a1500 K. Hart 506.
Of retinew feit he him as than(2) 1398 Acts I 211/1.
All the legys … sal … trauayl with hym [sc. the lieutenant] as thai sulde do with the kyngis awyn person nocht agaynstandande ony condicions of retenewis — 1420 Red Bk. Menteith I 162.
His letters of retenewe 1442 (1444) Reg. Great S. 63/2.
For service till us to be done as is contenit in the lettrez of retenew till us maid 1478 Antiq. Aberd. & B. III 339.
His letteris of manrent and retenew(3) 1408 Slater Early Sc. Texts No. 70.
The saide Sir Gilbert hase made his duelli[n]g and speciale retenew with our saide lorde the gouuernour(4) 1419 Hay Geneal. Sainteclaires 60.
For the quhilk retenew the said lord shall infeft … Adame … with cunable chartars of blench ferme(5) 1420 Antiq. Aberd. & B. IV 181.
The … Earll of Mar is becum man of sp[eciale feale] and reteneu till the … Dvck of Albaney Governour of Scotland … his alleagence aucht till … the king allenerlie outane, … Also … the Governour sall gife to … the Earll of Mar the [tane] halfe of the profittis of the justry of Aberdeine [etc.] 1468 Ib. 405.
George lorde Gordoun to quhome I ame mane of feale and speciale retenu, for the quhilk manrent and seruice … Huntlie has giffine me the landis of [etc.] 1496 Acta Conc. II 29.
The Lordis ordanis that ane exempcione be gevin to this lord for his men of househald and retenew quhilk war his men before the tyme of this debait(6) 1487 Buccleuch Mun. II 89.
I sall be in howssalde or ratenew at the will of my saide lorde 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. 722.
Ȝoung gallandis That in my seruice and retinew standisattrib. 1419 Hay Geneal. Sainteclaires 60.
That the said Adam is becomyn … retenewman … to the said lorde

2. A body of men retained as a fighting force in the service of a king or person in authority.(1) 1375 Barb. xv 429 (C).
His retennew than gaderit he, That war gud men of gret bounte 1397 Acts I 208/2.
The kyngis legis sal helpe … the schirefs … als wele agayn thair awyn men & retenwis as agayn other 1513 Doug. vii v 80.
And lefull is it eik of athir kyng The retennew [Sm. retynew] in batale down to dyng Ib. xi x 42.
Suffir me to assay With my retenew … The first danger in batale, or I stent(2) 1542 Old Ross-shire I 109.
For warneing his majesties oist retynie of warre out of ilk reik hous yeirly ane penny

3. The action of keeping (a person) under restraint or in confinement. = Retentio(u)n(e n. 2. 1597 Cal. Sc. P. XIII 107.
[His freedom may work a more effectual satisfaction towards … your sovereign than his] retenewe

b. Upoun (one's) retinew, ? 1561 Admir. Ct. Bk. 213.
The said Eduard schippit upoun his retinew in the said schip thre twn of wad