Anal retentive must be broken down into two seperate definitions, and then those definitions must be combined in order to form a definition which describes the phrase.
Anal: of, pertaining to, involving, or near the anus. Retentive: tending or serving to retain something. Thus, combining these two definitions to provide a definition of the phrase, you get something closely resembling: using an anus to retain something.
In other words, clenching of the butt cheeks rather firmly to hold something.
Does this help you, Dartagnan?
|