Also means
withheld, held back
Usage Note
Retenu is the past participle of retenir used as an adjective, and its meaning shifts with context: describing a person it means 'reserved' or 'discreet', while describing a payment or amount it means 'withheld'. The noun retenue covers both senses — self-restraint in behaviour and a deduction from a salary.
Examples
"Il reste très retenu en public."
Natural Translation
He remains very reserved in public.
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