Part 6759

<hw>Main*tain</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>v. t.</tt> <wordforms>[<tt>imp. & p. p.</tt> <er>Maintained</er> <tt>(?)</tt>; <tt>p. pr. & vb. n.</tt> <er>Maintaining</er>.]</wordforms> <ety>[OE. <ets>maintenen</ets>, F. <ets>maintenir</ets>, properly, to hold by the hand; <ets>main</ets> hand (L. <ets>manus</ets>) + F. <ets>tenir</ets> to hold (L.<ets>tenere</ets>). See <er>Manual</er>, and Tenable.]</ety> <p><b>1.</b> <def>To hold or keep in any particular state or condition; to support; to sustain; to uphold; to keep up; not to suffer to fail or decline; <as>as, to <ex>maintain</ex> a certain degree of heat in a furnace; to <ex>maintain</ex> a fence or a railroad; to <ex>maintain</ex> the digestive process or powers of the stomach; to <ex>maintain</ex> the fertility of soil; to <ex>maintain</ex> present reputation.</as></def>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>To keep possession of; to hold and defend; not to surrender or relinquish.</def>

<blockquote>God values . . . every one as he <b>maintains</b> his post. <i>Grew.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>3.</b> <def>To continue; not to suffer to cease or fail.</def>

<blockquote><b>Maintain</b> talk with the duke. <i>Shak.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>4.</b> <def>To bear the expense of; to support; to keep up; to supply with what is needed.</def>

<blockquote>Glad, by his labor, to <b>maintain</b> his life. <i>Stirling.</i></blockquote>

<blockquote>What <b>maintains</b> one vice would bring up two children. <i>Franklin.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>5.</b> <def>To affirm; to support or defend by argument.</def>

<blockquote>It is hard to <b>maintain</b> the truth, but much harder to be maintained by it. <i>South.</i></blockquote>

<syn>Syn. -- To assert; vindicate; allege. See <er>Assert</er>.</syn>

<h1>Maintainable</h1> <Xpage=884>

<hw>Main*tain"a*ble</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <def>That maybe maintained.</def>

<h1>Maintainer</h1> <Xpage=884>

<hw>Main*tain"er</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <def>One who maintains.</def>

<h1>Maintainor</h1> <Xpage=884>

<hw>Main*tain"or</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[OF. <ets>mainteneor</ets>, F. <ets>mainteneur</ets>.]</ety> <fld>(Crim. Law)</fld> <def>One who, not being interested, maintains a cause depending between others, by furnishing money, etc., to either party.</def>

<i>Bouvier. Wharton. </i>

<h1>Maintenance</h1> <Xpage=884>

<hw>Main"te*nance</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[OF. <ets>maintenance</ets>. See <er>Maintain</er>.]</ety> <p><b>1.</b> <def>The act of maintaining; sustenance; support; defense; vindication.</def>

<blockquote>Whatsoever is granted to the church for God's honor and the <b>maintenance</b> of his service, is granted to God. <i>South.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>That which maintains or supports; means of sustenance; supply of necessaries and conveniences.</def>

<blockquote>Those of better fortune not making learning their <b>maintenance</b>. <i>Swift.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>3.</b> <fld>(Crim. Law)</fld> <def>An officious or unlawful intermeddling in a cause depending between others, by assisting either party with money or means to carry it on. See <er>Champerty</er>.</def>

<i>Wharton.</i>

<cs><col>Cap of maintenance</col>. <cd>See under <er>Cap</er>.</cd></cs>

<h1>Maintop</h1> <Xpage=884>

<hw>Main"top`</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <fld>(Naut.)</fld> <def>The platform about the head of the mainmast in square-rigged vessels.</def>