A person working in the service of another (especially in the household)

Usage examples of retainer.

It was difficult for the old retainer to be serious about a person, even a doctor, who had been rescued from trees as a child and spanked on more than one occasion for disturbing the Ames beehives.

The aquarium had called, and they were interested in discussing a new retainer agreement.

Ungrian retainers, Lord Wichman, the Polenie duke Boleslas, Hrodik and Druthmar, Brigida with her levies from Avaria, a lady from Fesse, and several nobles from the marchlands who had joined to avenge the damage done to their lands by the Quman.

He had nothing for it but to endeavour to be the first to convey the already-blown news to Sir John Peachy, sheriff for Kent: his pains were rewarded by his being detained prisoner as a suspected person, while Sir John mustered his yeomanry, and, together with the neighbouring gentry and their retainers, marched towards Hythe, The wavering people, awed by this show of legal and military power, grew cool towards the White Rose, whose name, linked to change and a diminution of taxation, had for a moment excited their enthusiasm.

Besides the king and his family, the broch complex housed all the noble-born retainers of the court.

Ako was confiscated, and his retainers having become Ronins, some of them took service with other daimios, and others became merchants.

Permanent cadre are Ks deniable operators on a salaried retainer not freelancers like me, called on to carry out shit jobs that no one else wants.

Where was the fulgent peak of Higashi Honganji Temple, sweeping upward among the surrounding tiled roofs like the upturned chin of a princess among her retainers?

And of a late, stormy night, they were used by Sir Huhmfree Gawlin and certain of his retainers.

Erskine and Ramsay now locked the door opening on the narrow stair, at which the retainers of Gowrie struck with axes.

He therefore proposed to send back with Ruthven a retainer of his own with a warrant to Gowrie, then Provost of Perth, and the Bailies, to take over the man and the money.

I took it, thanking him kindly, and wished for a palace and bunch of gutty retainers.

Yes, she has met Sir Brandon Miles and some of his retainers at a party given there by Duke Giles several months ago.

The sentiments of men were divided: all the nobility had taken part on one side or the other: the people followed implicitly their leaders: the two claimants themselves had great power and numerous retainers in Scotland: and it is no wonder that, among a rude people, more accustomed to arms than inured to laws, a controversy of this nature, which could not be decided by any former precedent among them, and which is capable of exciting commotions in the most legal and best established governments, should threaten the state with the most fatal convulsions.

The terrifying word of them flew before them, and the strong and able either fled or took to their keeps or mottes or fortified steadings with all their retainers, kindred, and kine, while the weak and helpless rushed to join immediately they came in proximity to the red-handed worshipers of the Mother.