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maintain |
2 definitions 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}. From WordNet r 1.6 [wn]: maintain v 1: keep in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., "keep clean"; "hold in place"; "She always held herself as a lady" [syn: {keep}, {hold}] 2: keep in perfect or unaltered condition; "We preserve these archeological findings" [syn: {preserve}, {keep up}] 3: supply with sustenance [syn: {sustain}, {keep}] 4: state categorically [syn: {assert}, {asseverate}] 5: of power or authority [syn: {wield}, {exert}] 6: maintain by writing regular records; "keep a diary"; "maintain a record"; "keep notes" [syn: {keep}] 7: state or assert; "He maintained his innocence" [syn: {defend}] 8: support against an opponent; "The appellate court upheld the verdict" [syn: {uphold}] 9: observe correctly; "keep time, keep count keep track of" [syn: {observe}, {keep}]
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