Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Detain \De*tain"\ (d[-e]*t[=a]n"), v. t. [imp. & p. p.
   {Detained}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Detaining}.] [F. d['e]tenir, L.
   detinere, detentum; de + tenere to hold. See {Tenable}.]
   1. To keep back or from; to withhold.

            Detain not the wages of the hireling. --Jer. Taylor.

   2. To restrain from proceeding; to stay or stop; to delay;
      as, we were detained by an accident.

            Let us detain thee, until we shall have made ready a
            kid for thee.                         --Judges xiii.
                                                  15.

   3. To hold or keep in custody.

   Syn: To withhold; retain; stop; stay; arrest; check; retard;
        delay; hinder.

Detain \De*tain"\, n.
   Detention. [Obs.] --Spenser.

Source : WordNet®

detain
     v 1: deprive of freedom; take into confinement [syn: {confine}]
          [ant: {free}]
     2: stop or halt; "Please stay the bloodshed!" [syn: {stay}, {delay}]
     3: cause to be slowed down or delayed; "Traffic was delayed by
        the bad weather"; "she delayed the work that she didn't
        want to perform" [syn: {delay}, {hold up}] [ant: {rush}]