keepKEEP, v.t. pret. and pp. kept. [L. habeo, and capio.] 10. To hold in any state; as, to keep in order. 11. To continue any state, course or action; as, to keep silence; to keep the same road or the same pace; to keep reading or talking; to keep a given distance. 12. To practice; to do or perform; to obey; to observe in practice; not to neglect or violate; as, to keep the laws, statutes or commandments of God. 13. To fulfill; to perform; as, to keep one's word,promise or covenant. 14. To practice; to use habitually; as, to keep bad hours. 15. To copy carefully. 16. To observe or solemnize. 17. To board; to maintain; to supply with necessaries of life. The men are kept at a moderate price per week. 18. To have in the house; to entertain; as, to keep lodgers. 19. To maintain; not to intermit; as, to keep watch or guard. 20. To hold in one's own bosom; to confine to one's own knowledge; not to disclose or communicate to others; not to betray; as, to keep a secret; to keep one's own counsel. 21. To have in pay; as, to keep a servant. To keep back, to reserve; to withhold; not to disclose or communicate. To keep company with, to frequent the society of; to associate with. Let youth keep company with the wise and good. To accompany; to go with; as, to keep company with one on a journey or voyage. To keep down, to prevent from rising; not to lift or suffer to be raised. To keep in, to prevent from escape; to hold in confinement. To keep off, to hinder from approach or attack; as, to keep off an enemy or an evil. To keep under, to restrain; to hold in subjection; as, to keep under an antagonist or a conquered country; to keep under the appetites and passions. To keep up, to maintain; to prevent from falling or diminution; as, to keep up the price of goods; to keep up one's credit. To keep bed, to remain in bed without rising; to be confined to one's bed. To keep house, to maintain a family state. To keep from, to restrain; to prevent approach. To keep a school, to maintain or support it; as, the town or its inhabitants keep ten schools; more properly, to govern and instruct or teach a school, as a preceptor. KEEP, v.i. To remain in any state; as, to keep at a distance; to keep aloft; to keep near; to keep in the house; to keep before or behind; to keep in favor; to keep out of company, or out of reach. To keep to, to adhere strictly; not to neglect or deviate from; as, to keep to old customs; to keep to a rule; to keep to one's word or promise. To keep on, to go forward; to proceed; to continue to advance. To keep up, to remain unsubdued; or not to be confined to one's bed. In popular language, this word signifies to continue; to repeat continually; not to cease. KEEP, n. Custody; guard. [Little used.] |