[main.tain] vt [ME mainteinen, fr. OF maintenir, fr. ML manutenere, fr. L manu tenere to hold in the hand] (14c) 1: to keep in an existing state (as of repair, efficiency, or validity): preserve from failure or decline "~ machinery"
2: to sustain against opposition or danger: uphold and defend "~ a position"
3: to continue or persevere in: carry on, keep up "couldn't ~ his composure"
4. a: to support or provide for "has a family to ~" b: sustain "enough food to ~ life"
5: to affirm in or as if in argument: assert "~ed that the earth is flat" -- main.tain.abil.i.ty n -- main.tain.able adj -- main.tain.er n syn maintain, assert, defend, vindicate, justify mean to uphold as true, right, just, or reasonable. maintain stresses firmness of conviction "steadfastly maintained his innocence". assert suggests determination to make others accept one's claim "asserted her rights". defend implies maintaining in the face of attack or criticism "defended his voting record". vindicate implies successfully defending "his success vindicated our faith in him". justify implies showing to be true, just, or valid by appeal to a standard or to precedent "the action was used to justify military intervention".