Part 6231

<i>Locke.</i>

<syn>Syn. -- To retain; detain; reserve; preserve; hold; restrain; maintain; sustain; support; withhold.</syn> -- To <er>Keep</er>. <usage> <er>Retain</er>, <er>Preserve</er>. <i>Keep</i> is the generic term, and is often used where <i>retain</i> or <i>preserve</i> would too much restrict the meaning; as, to <i>keep</i> silence, etc. <i>Retain</i> denotes that we <i>keep</i> or <i>hold</i> things, as against influences which might deprive us of them, or reasons which might lead us to give them up; as, to <i>retain</i> vivacity in old age; to <i>retain</i> counsel in a lawsuit; to <i>retain</i> one's servant after a reverse of fortune. <i>Preserve</i> denotes that we keep a thing against agencies which might lead to its being destroyed or broken in upon; as, to <i>preserve</i> one's health; to <i>preserve</i> appearances.</usage>

<h1>Keep</h1> <Xpage=810>

<hw>Keep</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>v. i.</tt> <p><b>1.</b> <def>To remain in any position or state; to continue; to abide; to stay; <as>as, to <ex>keep</ex> at a distance; to <ex>keep</ex> aloft; to <ex>keep</ex> near; to <ex>keep</ex> in the house; to <ex>keep</ex> before or behind; to <ex>keep</ex> in favor; to <ex>keep</ex> out of company, or out reach.</as></def>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>To last; to endure; to remain unimpaired.</def>

<blockquote>If the malt be not thoroughly dried, the ale it makes will not <b>keep</b>. <i>Mortimer.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>3.</b> <def>To reside for a time; to lodge; to dwell.</def> <mark>[Now disused except locally or colloquially.]</mark>

<blockquote>Knock at his study, where, they say, he <b>keeps</b>. <i>Shak.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>4.</b> <def>To take care; to be solicitous; to watch.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<blockquote><b>Keep</b> that the lusts choke not the word of God that is in us. <i>Tyndale.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>5.</b> <def>To be in session; <as>as, school <ex>keeps</ex> to-day</as>.</def> <mark>[Colloq.]</mark>

<cs><col>To keep from</col>, <cd>to abstain or refrain from.</cd> -- <col>To keep in with</col>, <cd>to keep on good terms with; <as>as, <ex>to keep in with<ex> an opponent</as>.</cd> -- <col>To keep on</col>, <cd>to go forward; to proceed; to continue to advance.</cd> -- <col>To keep to</col>, <cd>to adhere strictly to; not to neglect or deviate from; <as>as, <ex>to keep to<ex> old customs; <ex>to keep to<ex> a rule; <ex>to keep to<ex> one's word or promise</as>.</cd> -- <col>To keep up</col>, <cd>to remain unsubdued; also, not to be confined to one's bed.</cd></cs>

<h1>Keep</h1> <Xpage=810>

<hw>Keep</hw>, <tt>n.</tt> <p><b>1.</b> <def>The act or office of keeping; custody; guard; care; heed; charge.</def>

<i>Chaucer.</i>

<blockquote>Pan, thou god of shepherds all, Which of our tender lambkins takest <b>keep</b>. <i>Spenser.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>The state of being kept; hence, the resulting condition; case; <as>as, to be in good <ex>keep</ex></as>.</def>

<p><b>3.</b> <def>The means or provisions by which one is kept; maintenance; support; <as>as, the <ex>keep</ex> of a horse</as>.</def>

<blockquote>Grass equal to the <b>keep</b> of seven cows. <i>Carlyle.</i></blockquote>

<blockquote>I performed some services to the college in return for my <b>keep</b>. <i>T. Hughes.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>4.</b> <def>That which keeps or protects; a stronghold; a fortress; a castle; specifically, the strongest and securest part of a castle, often used as a place of residence by the lord of the castle, especially during a siege; the donjon. See <i>Illust</i>. of <er>Castle</er>.</def>

<blockquote>The prison strong, Within whose <b>keep</b> the captive knights were laid. <i>Dryden.</i></blockquote>

<blockquote>The lower chambers of those gloomy <b>keeps</b>. <i>Hallam.</i></blockquote>

<blockquote>I think . . . the <b>keep</b>, or principal part of a castle, was so called because the lord and his domestic circle <b>kept</b>, abode, or lived there. <i>M. A. Lower.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>5.</b> <def>That which is kept in charge; a charge.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<blockquote>Often he used of his <b>keep</b> A sacrifice to bring. <i>Spenser.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>6.</b> <fld>(Mach.)</fld> <def>A cap for retaining anything, as a journal box, in place.</def>

<cs><col>To take keep</col>, <cd>to take care; to heed.</cd> <mark>[Obs.]</mark> <i>Chaucer.</i></cs>