家臣
解説 Definition
retainers は retainer（家臣、従者）の複数形です。特に歴史的な文脈で、領主や有力者に仕える人々を指します。
Retainers are servants, attendants, or followers attached to a lord, noble family, or other powerful person, especially in historical settings. The plural emphasizes the group of people who serve, accompany, guard, or remain loyal to their patron.
覚え方のコツ Memory Tip
retainer（家臣・従者）の複数形で、語尾に規則的に -s を付け、発音は /z/ です。retain「手元に置く」に人を表す -er が付き、「領主がそばに置いて仕えさせる人」と結び付けます。the lord's retainers、loyal retainers の形が歴史物で典型的です。現代英語の「顧問料」や「歯列矯正の保定装置」という別義とは文脈で区別します。
Retainers is the regular plural of retainer, formed by adding -s; the final sound is /z/. Link it to retain, “to keep,” and imagine a lord keeping trusted followers in continual service. Historical combinations such as the lord’s retainers, loyal retainers, and retainers guarding a castle make the intended sense clear. Context matters because modern retainer can also mean an advance fee paid for professional services or a dental device that keeps teeth in position. Here it specifically means several attendants or vassal-like followers.
例文
The lord traveled with his retainers.
その領主は家臣たちを連れて旅をしました。
The retainers guarded the castle gate.
家臣たちは城門を守っていました。
Many retainers remained loyal to the family for generations.
多くの家臣は何世代にもわたってその一族に忠誠を尽くしました。
retainers の類義語・関連語
類義語
対義語
紛らわしい語
retainers の語源・成り立ち Etymology
retainers は retain の名詞形で、古フランス語 retenir、さらにラテン語 retinere に由来します。re-「後ろに・保って」+ tenere「つかむ」で、tenant や contain と同系です。人を手元に引き留めて仕えさせる感覚から「家臣」になりました。
Retainer is derived from retain, which entered English through Old French retenir from Latin retinere, “to hold back or keep.” The Latin verb combines re-, conveying “back,” with tenere, “to hold,” a root also found in tenant and contain. A retainer was historically someone kept in the service or household of a powerful person. Retainers is the regular plural, formed by adding -s, and in this sense refers collectively to such servants or followers.
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