(a) The band of retainers, attendants, or followers of a king, lord, goddess, etc.; a train, suite; also, an army; also, the band of Christ's disciples [quot.: 1591]; also fig.; maken ~, to hire or engage a band of followers; (b) a company of descendants; (c) a retainer, follower.

(a) The state of being in service to somebody; at ~, at the command or service (of sb.); of ~, engaged in service; (b) ben in retenues with, to be engaged to be in military service with (sb.); holden in ~, keep (sb.) in (one's) service; maken ~ with, enter into service with (sb.); putten oute of ~, remove (sb.) from one's service; (c) ~ makinge, entering into the service of somebody.