[keep] vb kept ; keep.ing [ME kepen, fr. OE cepan; perh. akin to OHG chapfen to look] vt (bef. 12c) 1: to take notice of by appropriate conduct: fulfill: as a: to be faithful to "~ a promise" b: to act fittingly in relation to "~ the Sabbath" c: to conform to in habits or conduct "~ late hours" d: to stay in accord with (a beat) "~ time"
2: preserve, maintain: as a: to watch over and defend "~ us from harm" b (1): to take care of: tend "~ a garden" (2): support (3): to maintain in a good, fitting, or orderly condition--usu. used with up c: to continue to maintain "~ watch" d (1): to cause to remain in a given place, situation, or condition "~ him waiting" (2): to preserve (food) in an unspoiled condition e: to have or maintain in one's service or at one's disposal "~ a mistress"--often used with on "kept the cook on"; also: to lodge or feed for pay "~ boarders" f (1): to maintain a record in "~ a diary" (2): to enter in a book "~ records" g: to have customarily in stock for sale 3 a: to restrain from departure or removal: detain "~ children in after school" b: hold back, restrain "~ them from going" "kept him back with difficulty" c: save, reserve "~ some for later" "kept some out for a friend" d: to refrain from revealing "~ a secret"
4. a: to retain in one's possession or power "kept the money we found" b: to refrain from granting, giving, or allowing "kept the news back" c: to have in control "~ your temper"
5: to confine oneself to "~ my room"
6. a: to stay or continue in "~ the path" "~ your seat" b: to stay or remain on or in usu. against opposition: hold "kept her ground" 7: conduct, manage "~ a tearoom" ~ vi 1 chiefly Brit: live, lodge
2. a: to maintain a course, direction, or progress "~ to the right" b: to continue usu. without interruption "~ talking" "~ quiet" "~ on smiling" c: to persist in a practice "kept bothering them" "kept on smoking in spite of warnings"
3: stay, remain "~ out of the way" "~ off the grass": as a: to stay even--usu. used with up "~ up with the Joneses" b: to remain in good condition "meat : watch -- keep at : to persist in doing or concerning oneself with -- keep company : to go together as frequent companions or in courtship -- keep house : to manage a household -- keep one's distance or keep at a distance : to stay aloof: maintain a reserved attitude -- keep one's eyes open or keep one's eyes peeled : to be on the alert: be watchful -- keep one's hand in : to keep in practice -- keep pace : to stay even; also: keep up -- keep step : to keep in step -- keep to 1 a: to stay in b: to limit oneself to
2: to abide by -- keep to oneself 1: to keep secret "kept the facts to myself"
2: to remain solitary or apart from other people syn keep, observe, celebrate, commemorate mean to notice or honor a day, occasion, or deed. keep stresses the idea of not neglecting or violating "kept the Sabbath by refraining from work". observe suggests marking the occasion by ceremonious performance "not all holidays are observed nationally". celebrate suggests acknowledging an occasion by festivity "traditionally celebrates Thanksgiving with a huge dinner". commemorate suggests that an occasion is marked by observances that remind one of the origin and significance of the day "commemorate Memorial Day with the laying of wreaths". syn keep, retain, detain, withhold, reserve mean to hold in one's possession or under one's control. keep may suggest a holding securely in one's possession, custody, or control "keep this while I'm gone". retain implies continued keeping, esp. against threatened seizure or forced loss "managed to retain their dignity even in poverty". detain suggests a delay in letting go "detained them for questioning". withhold implies restraint in letting go or a refusal to let go "withheld information from the authorities". reserve suggests a keeping in store for future use "reserve some of your energy for the last mile".
[2]keep n (1579) 1 a archaic: custody, charge b: maintenance
2: one that keeps or protects: as a: fortress, castle; specif: the strongest and securest part of a medieval castle b: one whose job is to keep or tend c: prison, jail
3: the means or provisions by which one is kept "earned his ~"
4: keeper
4. -- for keeps 1 a: with the provision that one keep what one has won "played marbles for keeps" b: with deadly seriousness
2: for an indefinitely long time: permanently
3: with the result of ending the matter