Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (v. t.) To keep back or from; to withhold. 2. (v. t.) To restrain from proceeding; to stay or stop; to delay; as, we were detained by an accident. 3. (v. t.) To hold or keep in custody. 4. (n.) Detention.

Multi-Version Concordance Detain (4 Occurrences) Luke 4:42 Next morning, at daybreak, He left the town and went away to a solitary place; but the people flocked out to find Him, and, coming to the place where He was, they endeavoured to detain Him that He might not leave them. (WEY) Acts 24:4 But--not to detain you too long--I beg you in your forbearance to listen to a brief statement from us. (WEY RSV) Judges 13:15 Manoah said to the angel of Yahweh, "I pray you, let us detain you, that we may make a young goat ready for you." (WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV) Judges 13:16 The angel of Yahweh said to Manoah, "Though you detain me, I won't eat of your bread; and if you will make ready a burnt offering, you must offer it to Yahweh." For Manoah didn't know that he was the angel of Yahweh. (WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)