Term used of someone in the retinue of a lord or magnate. It did not distinguish between a follower, who owed his lord a life-time's service, and those who accompanied him on a particular campaign, in temporary employment. All members of the lord's *meinie could be counted within his retinentia but not the other way round. [< AnNor. retein < Lat. retineo = retain] -
Cf. Contract captain
Dictionary of Medieval Terms and Phrases. Christopher Coredon with Ann Williams.