Hold /(hōld)/

Hold

n.
  1. The whole interior portion of a vessel below the lower deck, in which the cargo is stowed. (Naut.)

Hold

v. t.

imp. & p. p. Held; p. pr. & vb. n. Holding

  1. To cause to remain in a given situation, position, or relation, within certain limits, or the like; to prevent from falling or escaping; to sustain; to restrain; to keep in the grasp; to retain.
    The loops held one curtain to another.
    — Ex. xxxvi. 12.
    Thy right hand shall hold me.
    — Ps. cxxxix. 10.
    They all hold swords, being expert in war.
    — Cant. iii. 8.
    In vain he seeks, that having can not hold.
    France, thou mayst hold a serpent by the tongue, . . . A fasting tiger safer by the tooth, Than keep in peace that hand which thou dost hold.
  2. To retain in one's keeping; to maintain possession of, or authority over; not to give up or relinquish; to keep; to defend.
    We mean to hold what anciently we claim Of deity or empire.
  3. To have; to possess; to be in possession of; to occupy; to derive title to; as, to hold office.
    This noble merchant held a noble house.
    Of him to hold his seigniory for a yearly tribute.
    And now the strand, and now the plain, they held.
  4. To impose restraint upon; to limit in motion or action; to bind legally or morally; to confine; to restrain.
    We can not hold mortality's strong hand.
    Death! what do'st? O, hold thy blow.
    — Grashaw.
    He had not sufficient judgment and self-command to hold his tongue.
  5. To maintain in being or action; to carry on; to prosecute, as a course of conduct or an argument; to continue; to sustain.
    Hold not thy peace, and be not still.
    — Ps. lxxxiii. 1.
    Seedtime and harvest, heat and hoary frost, Shall hold their course.
  6. To prosecute, have, take, or join in, as something which is the result of united action; as to, hold a meeting, a festival, a session, etc.; hence, to direct and bring about officially; to conduct or preside at; as, the general held a council of war; a judge holds a court; a clergyman holds a service.
    I would hold more talk with thee.
  7. To receive and retain; to contain as a vessel; as, this pail holds milk; hence, to be able to receive and retain; to have capacity or containing power for.
    Broken cisterns that can hold no water.
    — Jer. ii. 13.
    One sees more devils than vast hell can hold.
  8. To accept, as an opinion; to be the adherent of, openly or privately; to persist in, as a purpose; to maintain; to sustain.
    Stand fast and hold the traditions which ye have been taught.
    — 2 Thes. ii.15.
    But still he held his purpose to depart.
  9. To consider; to regard; to esteem; to account; to think; to judge.
    I hold him but a fool.
    I shall never hold that man my friend.
    The Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.
    — Ex. xx. 7.
  10. To bear, carry, or manage; as he holds himself erect; he holds his head high.
    Let him hold his fingers thus.
    O, fie! to receive favors, return falsehoods, And hold a lady in hand.
    — Beaw. & Fl.

Hold

v. i.
  1. In general, to keep one's self in a given position or condition; to remain fixed. Hence:
  2. Not to move; to halt; to stop; -- mostly in the imperative.
    And damned be him that first cries, “Hold, enough!”
  3. Not to give way; not to part or become separated; to remain unbroken or unsubdued.
    Our force by land hath nobly held.
  4. Not to fail or be found wanting; to continue; to last; to endure a test or trial; to abide; to persist.
    While our obedience holds.
    The rule holds in land as all other commodities.
  5. Not to fall away, desert, or prove recreant; to remain attached; to cleave; -- often with with, to, or for.
    He will hold to the one and despise the other.
    — Matt. vi. 24
  6. To restrain one's self; to refrain.
    His dauntless heart would fain have held From weeping, but his eyes rebelled.
  7. To derive right or title; -- generally with of.
    My crown is absolute, and holds of none.
    His imagination holds immediately from nature.
    — Hazlitt.

Phrases & Compounds
Hold on!
wait; stop; forbear.
To hold forth
to speak in public; to harangue; to preach.
To hold in
to restrain one's self; as, he wanted to laugh and could hardly hold in.
To hold off
to keep at a distance.
To hold on
to keep fast hold; to continue; to go on.
To hold out
to last; to endure; to continue; to maintain one's self; not to yield or give way.
To hold over
to remain in office, possession, etc., beyond a certain date.
To hold to
to take sides with, as a person or opinion.
To hold together
to be joined; not to separate; to remain in union.
To hold up
To support one's self; to remain unbent or unbroken; as, to hold up under misfortunes.

Hold

n.
  1. The act of holding, as in or with the hands or arms; the manner of holding, whether firm or loose; seizure; grasp; clasp; grip; possession; -- often used with the verbs take and lay.
    Ne have I not twelve pence within mine hold.
    Thou should'st lay hold upon him.
    My soul took hold on thee.
    Take fast hold of instruction.
    — Pror. iv. 13.
  2. The authority or ground to take or keep; claim.
    The law hath yet another hold on you.
  3. Binding power and influence.
    Fear . . . by which God and his laws take the surest hold of.
  4. Something that may be grasped; means of support.
    If a man be upon an high place without rails or good hold, he is ready to fall.
  5. A place of confinement; a prison; confinement; custody; guard.
    They . . . put them in hold unto the next day.
    — Acts. iv. 3.
    King Richard, he is in the mighty hold Of Bolingbroke.
  6. A place of security; a fortified place; a fort; a castle; -- often called a stronghold.
    New comers in an ancient hold
  7. A character [thus ] placed over or under a note or rest, and indicating that it is to be prolonged; -- called also pause, and corona. (Mus.)