keep

I. verb (kept; keeping) Etymology: Middle English kepen, from Old English cēpan; perhaps akin to Old High German chapfēn to look Date: before 12th century transitive verb 1. to take notice of by appropriate conduct ; fulfill: as a. to be faithful to <

keep a promise

> b. to act fittingly in relation to <

keep the Sabbath

> c. to conform to in habits or conduct <

keep late hours

> d. to stay in accord with (a beat) <

keep time

> 2. preserve, maintain: as a. to watch over and defend <

keep us from harm

> b. (1) to take care of ; tend <

keep a garden

> (2) support (3) to maintain in a good, fitting, or orderly condition — usually used with up c. to continue to maintain <

keep watch

> d. (1) to cause to remain in a given place, situation, or condition <

keep him waiting

> (2) to preserve (food) in an unspoiled condition e. (1) to have or maintain in an established position or relationship <

keep a mistress

> — often used with on <

kept the cook on

> (2) to lodge or feed for pay <

keep boarders

> f. (1) to maintain a record in <

keep a diary

> (2) to enter in a book <

keep records

> g. to have customarily in stock for sale 3. a. to restrain from departure or removal ; detain <

keep children after school

> b. hold back, restrain <

keep them from going

> <

kept him back with difficulty

> c. save, reserve <

keep some for later

> <

kept some out for a friend

> d. to refrain from revealing <

keep a secret

> 4. a. to retain in one's possession or power <

kept the money we found

> b. to refrain from granting, giving, or allowing <

kept the news back

> c. to have in control <

keep your temper

> 5. to confine oneself to <

keep my room

> 6. a. to stay or continue in <

keep the path

> <

keep your seat

> b. to stay or remain on or in usually against opposition ; hold <

kept her ground

> 7. conduct, manage <

keep a tearoom

> intransitive verb 1. chiefly British live, lodge 2. a. to maintain a course, direction, or progress <

keep to the right

> b. to continue usually without interruption <

keep talking

> <

keep quiet

> <

keep on smiling

> c. to persist in a practice <

kept bothering them

> <

kept on smoking in spite of warnings

> 3. stay, remain <

keep out of the way

> <

keep off the grass

>: as a. to stay even — usually used with up <

keep up with the Joneses

> b. to remain in good condition <

meat will keep in the freezer

> c. to remain secret <

the secret would keep

> d. to call for no immediate action <

the matter will keep until morning

> 4. abstain, refrain <

can't keep from talking

> 5. to be in session <

school will keep through the winter — W. M. Thayer

> 6. of a quarterback to retain possession of a football especially after faking a handoff Synonyms: keep, observe, celebrate, commemorate mean to notice or honor a day, occasion, or deed. keep stresses the idea of not neglecting or violating <

kept the Sabbath by refraining from work

>. observe suggests marking the occasion by ceremonious performance <

not all holidays are observed nationally

>. celebrate suggests acknowledging an occasion by festivity <

traditionally celebrates Thanksgiving with a huge dinner

>. commemorate suggests that an occasion is marked by observances that remind one of the origin and significance of the event <

commemorate Memorial Day with the laying of wreaths

>. Synonyms: keep, retain, detain, withhold, reserve mean to hold in one's possession or under one's control. keep may suggest a holding securely in one's possession, custody, or control <

keep this while I'm gone

>. retain implies continued keeping, especially against threatened seizure or forced loss <

managed to retain their dignity even in poverty

>. detain suggests a delay in letting go <

detained them for questioning

>. withhold implies restraint in letting go or a refusal to let go <

withheld information from the authorities

>. reserve suggests a keeping in store for future use <

reserve some of your energy for the last mile

>. II. noun Date: 1579 1. a. archaic custody, charge b. maintenance 2. one that keeps or protects: as a. fortress, castle; specifically the strongest and securest part of a medieval castle b. one whose job is to keep or tend c. prison, jail 3. the means or provisions by which one is kept <

earned his keep

> 4. keeper 5