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Added 9 October 2026

detent

/dɪˈtɛnt/ noun

Latin root: tendō Wiktionary

noun Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about detent at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

A hinged catch that fits into a notch of a ratchet to move a wheel forward or prevent it from moving backward.

Origin

From French détente, from Latin tendō (“to stretch”).

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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