contain

to hold or to hold back

Examples: What does that box contain?
He could barely contain his excitement.

People trying to contain their laughter

When should you keep your laughter contained?

tenacity

the condition of holding on to something firmly.

Examples: Ivy clung to the wall with tenacity; Glen needed tenacity to hold on to the ladder on the windy day.

Cindy's tenacity kept her from giving up.

Someone or something clinging with tenacity.

When are two times when it would be a good thing to have tenacity?

retain

To keep in one place; a "retaining wall" holds water, and to "retain information" means to remember it. A tooth retainer holds your teeth back.

Someone or something retaining something, or a tooth retainer

What are three examples of information you have retained?

intensity

the strength or quantity of something. For example, The intensity of the wind knocked down the fence.

A high-intensity light or someone staring with much intensity

How can you change the intensity of your voice?

contend

To try or struggle in a contest or against difficulties.

"He will contend in the final chess match" or "she had a lot to contend with, trying to get that car to run!"

Someone contending in a contest

What are two things you have had to contend with this week, or sometime in your life?

content (n)

something that is contained

A box with a lot of contents

What does a "table of contents" describe?

contentious

likely to start an argument

a contentious person

What are two things that a contentious person might say?

detain

to hold or keep, as in custody, or to be held back. People are detained in jail; "detention" means having to stay somewhere even though you probably don't want to be there. You could also be detained by traffic or work that had to be done.

Someone being detained.

What are two reasons a person might be detained?