1  definition  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Maintain  \Main*tain\,  v.  t.  [imp.  &  p.  p.  {Maintained};  p.  pr  & 
  vb  n.  {Maintaining}.]  [OE.  maintenen  F.  maintenir 
  properly,  to  hold  by  the  hand;  main  hand  (L.  manus)  +  F. 
  tenir  to  hold  (L.  tenere).  See  {Manual},  and  Tenable.] 
  1.  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  to  maintain  a  certain  degree  of 
  heat  in  a  furnace;  to  maintain  a  fence  or  a  railroad;  to 
  maintain  the  digestive  process  or  powers  of  the  stomach; 
  to  maintain  the  fertility  of  soil;  to  maintain  present 
  reputation. 
 
  2.  To  keep  possession  of  to  hold  and  defend;  not  to 
  surrender  or  relinquish. 
 
  God  values  .  .  .  every  one  as  he  maintains  his  post 
  --Grew. 
 
  3.  To  continue;  not  to  suffer  to  cease  or  fail 
 
  Maintain  talk  with  the  duke.  --Shak. 
 
  4.  To  bear  the  expense  of  to  support;  to  keep  up  to  supply 
  with  what  is  needed. 
 
  Glad,  by  his  labor,  to  maintain  his  life. 
  --Stirling. 
 
  What  maintains  one  vice  would  bring  up  two  children. 
  --Franklin. 
 
  5.  To  affirm;  to  support  or  defend  by  argument. 
 
  It  is  hard  to  maintain  the  truth,  but  much  harder  to 
  be  maintained  by  it  --South. 
 
  Syn:  To  assert;  vindicate;  allege.  See  {Assert}. 

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