Question

91. ten, tin, tent, tain [L]=

Accepted Answer

to hold 握，持
这组异体词根有四个：ten 是基本形式，它来自拉丁动词tenere 的不定式词干，意思相当于
to hold（握，持）；tent 来自动名词词干；tin 是ten 在某些前缀之后的音变形式；tain 是ten
的重读形式，是从法语转引进英语的，它在英语中的构词能力很强。

contain [con-(com-)=together 一起；tain=to hold 保持→“to hold together 保持在一起”→] v.
① hold, or be able to hold 容纳；装得下：The hall can hold a hundred people.这大厅装得下一
百人。② include 包含：Sea water contains salt. 海水含盐分。③ hold within bounds;restrain
控制；抑制：to contain oneself 自制

▽container [contain;-er n.] n.容器；集装箱
containment [contain;-ment n.] n.抑制；遏制；牵制
content [con-;tent] n.容量；内容a.满足的

detain [de-=away 离；tain=to hold 保持→“to hold away from free action 约束使之无自由”→]
v.① stop or delay 阻留：I was detained by heavy traffic.交通拥挤把我给耽误了。② hold or
confine in jail 拘留；扣押：to detain the suspect 拘留疑犯

▽detainee [detain;-ee n.] n.被拘留者
detention [de-;tent;-ion n.] n.拘留；阻留

obtain [ob-=against 对抗；tain=to hold 握住→“to hold against difficulty 顶住困难把握住”→]
v. ① get hold of by efforts 获取；取得：to obtain freedom through stuggle 通过斗争获得自由
② gain;get 得到；买到：Where did you obtain this book?你在哪里买到这本书？

▽obtainer [obtain;-er n.] n.获得者
obtainment [obtain;-ment n.] n.获得；取得；买到

retain [re-=back 回；tain=to hold 保持→“to hold back for oneself 保持为己所有”→] v. keep in
one's possession, use, or mind 保有；保留；记住：My mind can't retain these figures.我的脑子
记不住这些数字。

▽retention [re-;tent;-ion n.] n.保持；记忆（力）
retentive [re-;tent;-ive a.] a.保持的；记忆力强的

sustain [sus-(sub-)=under 在……下面；tain=to hold 保持，支持→“to hold from under 在下面
支持着”→] v.① hold up, or uphold 支撑；承担：A few pillars sustain the roof. 几根柱子撑住
屋顶。② support, or provide for 支持；供养：He sustains the whole family.他一人养活全家。

▽sustention [sus-;tent;-ion n.] n.支持；供养
sustenance [sus-;ten;-ance n.] n.食物；营养

abstain [abs-(ab-)=from 离；tain=to hold 保持，约束→“to hold oneself from 约束自己离开”
→] v. ① keep from 避开：to abstain from voting 不参加投票② restrain 戒；节制：to abstain
from wine 戒酒

▽abstention [abs-;tent;-ion n.] n.戒；避开
以下介绍几个ten 和tin 的同根派生词。

tenant [ten=to hold 保持，占有；-ant n.=person 人→] n. person who holds the possession of a
room, land, etc. by paying rent 房客；佃户；承租者：I am the owner of the house, he is a tenant.
我是房东，他是房客。

▽tenantry [tenant;-ry n.] n. [总称]承租人
tenantable [tenant;-able a.] a.可租赁的
tenancy [ten;-ancy n.] n.租用

tenacious [ten=to hold 持；-ac;-ious a.=tending to 有……倾向的→] a. tending to hold opinion,
belief, etc. strong;stubborn 坚强的；固执的：He is tenacious of his purpose.他的目标始终如一。

▽tenacity [ten;-ac;-ity n.] n.坚强；固执

continent [con-(com-)=together 一起；tin=to hold 保持；-ent n.=thing 物→“land that holds
together 保持成一块的土地”→] n. mass of land holding together;large land mass of the earth
大陆；大洲：the continent of Africa 非洲大陆

▽continental [continent;-al a.] a.大陆的；大陆性的

continue [con-(com-)=together 一起；tinu (tenere 的完成时词干)=to hold 保持；-e→“to hold one
thing together with another 使一事物与另一事物保持相连”→] v. go on happening;go forward
连续；继续：He left but the meeting continued.他走了，但会议继续开。

▽continual [continu(e);-al a.] a.不断的；频繁的（常用于坏事）
continuous [continu(e);-ous a.] a.连续的；继续的
continuity [continu(e);-ity n.] n.连续性；继续性

Hold N V Con (Com )=Together 保持→“To Oneself Obtain Abstain