maintainv.

Brit.

/meɪnˈteɪn/,

/mənˈteɪn/, U.S.

/meɪnˈteɪn/

Forms: Middle English maintiene, Middle English maygten (probably transmission error), Middle English maynet (probably transmission error), Middle English maynetene, Middle English mayntan, Middle English maynteene, Middle English maynteigne, Middle English mayntente (probably transmission error), Middle English maynteygne, Middle English maynton, Middle English mayntyme (probably transmission error), Middle English mayntyn, Middle English mayntyne, Middle English mayteyn (probably transmission error), Middle English meignten, Middle English meigntene, Middle English meigten (probably transmission error), Middle English meintiene, Middle English menteene, Middle English mentene, Middle English meynetene, Middle English meyneteyne, Middle English meynteene, Middle English meynten, Middle English meyntyme (probably transmission error), Middle English meyntyn, Middle English meyten (probably transmission error), Middle English meyteyn (probably transmission error), Middle English myntayne (probably transmission error), Middle English mynten (probably transmission error), Middle English–1500s mainteigne, Middle English–1500s mainten, Middle English–1500s maintene, Middle English–1500s mantene, Middle English–1500s manteyn, Middle English–1500s manteyne, Middle English–1500s maynten, Middle English–1500s mayntene, Middle English–1500s meintein, Middle English–1500s meinteine, Middle English–1500s meintene, Middle English–1500s meinteyn, Middle English–1500s meinteyne, Middle English–1500s mentayne, Middle English–1500s menteine, Middle English–1500s menteyn, Middle English–1500s menteyne, Middle English–1500s meyntein, Middle English–1500s meynteine, Middle English–1500s meyntene, Middle English–1500s meynteyn, Middle English–1500s meynteyne, Middle English–1600s maintaine, Middle English–1600s maintayn, Middle English–1600s maintayne, Middle English–1600s maintein, Middle English–1600s mainteine, Middle English–1600s mainteyn, Middle English–1600s mainteyne, Middle English–1600s mantein, Middle English–1600s manteine, Middle English–1600s mayntaine, Middle English–1600s mayntayn, Middle English–1600s mayntayne, Middle English–1600s mayntein, Middle English–1600s maynteine, Middle English–1600s maynteyn, Middle English–1600s maynteyne, 1500s mainetayne, 1500s maineteyne, 1500s mantayne, 1500s manteigne, 1500s maytene, 1500s– maintain, 1600s mayntine; Scottish pre-1700 manetene, pre-1700 manntein, pre-1700 mantain, pre-1700 mantane, pre-1700 mantayn, pre-1700 mantayne, pre-1700 manteain, pre-1700 manteame, pre-1700 manteane, pre-1700 mantein, pre-1700 manteine, pre-1700 mantem, pre-1700 manteme, pre-1700 mantene, pre-1700 mantenne, pre-1700 manteym, pre-1700 manteyme, pre-1700 manteyn, pre-1700 manteyng, pre-1700 mantheym, pre-1700 mantine, pre-1700 mayneteym, pre-1700 maynteigne, pre-1700 maynteme, pre-1700 maynteym, pre-1700 maynteyme, pre-1700 meantayne, pre-1700 meintein, pre-1700 meinteine, pre-1700 meintene, pre-1700 mentaine, pre-1700 mentane, pre-1700 mentean, pre-1700 mentein, pre-1700 menteme, pre-1700 menten, pre-1700 meynteyn, pre-1700 1700s mentain, pre-1700 1700s– maintain, pre-1700 1700s– maintean, 1700s– mantaine, 1700s– manteen, 1700s– mantin, 1800s– mainteen, 1800s– maintein, 1800s– menteen, 1800s– minteen.

Origin: A borrowing from French. Etymon: French maintenir.

Etymology: < Anglo-Norman maintenir, meintenir, maynteigner to uphold, protect, further, discipline, compel, and Old French, Middle French maintenir to protect (c1135), to conserve in the same state (1160), to believe (a1176), (reflexive) to remain in a specified condition (1200), to affirm (1309), to keep a stock of < post-classical Latin manutenere to support, back up (10th cent.), to support, maintain, govern, possess (12th cent.; from c1115 in British sources) < classical Latin manū , ablative singular of manus hand (see manus n.¹) + tenēre hold (see tenant n.); compare classical Latin manū tenēre to have tangible evidence of something. Compare Old Occitan mantener, Spanish mantener, Portuguese manter, Italian mantenere; also Middle Dutch mainteneren ( < Middle French).The English forms probably partly reflect stem variation in Old French, where stress on the stem in parts of the paradigm gives e.g. 3rd singular present indicative -tient , 3rd singular present subjunctive -tiegne , -teigne (although with much mixture of forms through analogy; Middle English forms suggesting pronunciations with close ē and with ī probably reflect respectively Anglo-Norman and northern Old French developments of -ie- ). Compare detain v., retain v., sustain v.

I. To support, assist, and related uses.

†1.

a. transitive. To uphold, back up, stand by, support the cause of (a person, a party, etc.); to defend, protect, assist; to support or uphold in an action. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > safety > protection or defence > preservation from injury or destruction > preserve from injury or destruction [verb (transitive)] > preserve in existence or maintain

at-holdc1220

to hold upc1290

maintaina1325

sustainc1390

sustent?a1425

preserve1427

sustentate1542

a1325 Statutes of Realm (2011) v. 15 Ant that no iustises clerk, ne schirreues clerk, ne maintene parties of plaintes, ne of nuedes, þat beth in þe kinges curt, ne no fraude ne do for te delaien commune riȝt ant destorben.

c1330 (?c1300) Bevis of Hampton (Auch.) 4123 ‘Redeþ me..ariȝt Ȝif ich mai vnder-stonde þis fiȝt Aȝen Beues of Hamtoun.’..‘We redeþ meintene ȝour parti.’

a1375 (c1350) William of Palerne (1867) 2698 Sche..preyed..to þe prince of heuene,..to mayntene hire & help.

a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) 7374 (MED) His sede and his barntem Ouer al men i sal maintein.

?a1400 (a1338) R. Mannyng Chron. (Petyt) (1996) i. 15873 Cadwaldre bad Iuor..wend & wonne in Bretayn & maynten eft þo þat were of Bretayns left.

a1425 (a1400) Prick of Conscience (Galba & Harl.) (1863) 1108 (MED) He sal þe tane of þam mayntene And þe tother despyse [Matt. 6:24].

a1470 T. Malory Morte Darthur (Winch. Coll. 13) (1990) II. 926 To maynteyne his nevew ayenste the myghty erle.

a1500 (a1460) Towneley Plays (1897–1973) 309 To mayntene vs euermore ye aw.

1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 438/2 I assyste, or stande by, or mayntayne a person in doynge of a dede.

a1556 N. Udall Ralph Roister Doister (?1566) v. v. sig. H.iiij We must to make vs mirth, maintaine hym all we can.

1576 A. Fleming tr. C. Hegendorphinus in Panoplie Epist. 383 One frend to take another frendes part, to defend and maintaine him against backbiting.

a1604 M. Hanmer Chron. Ireland 31 in J. Ware Two Hist. Ireland (1633) His three sonnes..formerly went into Ireland to maintaine one of the factions.

a1616 W. Shakespeare Henry VI, Pt. 2 (1623) i. i. 159 Iesu maintaine your Royall Excellence.

1625 F. Bacon Ess. (new ed.) 154 He..would often maintaine Plantianus, in doing Affronts to his Son.

1673 Haddington Burgh Rec. 22 Feb. in Dict. Older Sc. Tongue (at cited word) To assist manteain and defend the said Mr William in correcting the insolence of the scholars.

1883 S. R. Gardiner Hist. Eng. II. xix. 328 In spite of all, James was still ready to maintain Somerset against his ill-willers in public, if he expostulated with him in private.

b. transitive. With infinitive: to assist, encourage, incite (a person) to do something, esp. something evil; to support or uphold (a person) in doing it. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > easiness > aid, help, or assistance > support > support or encouragement > support or encourage [verb (transitive)] > chiefly in something bad

comfort1362

maintainc1390

abet1442

bolster1523

c1390 (a1376) W. Langland Piers Plowman (Vernon) (1867) A. iii. 145 Prouendreres, persuns, preostes heo meynteneth, To holde lemmons and lotebyes al heor lyf-dayes.

c1390 (a1376) W. Langland Piers Plowman (Vernon) (1867) A. iv. 42 He meynteneth his men to morthere myn owne.

c1400 (?a1387) W. Langland Piers Plowman (Huntington HM 137) (1873) C. xviii. 234 Þe pope..That wiþ moneye menteyneþ men to werren vp-on cristine.

1546 in State Papers Henry VIII (1834) III. 577 The Justices nephew maynteyned the burgesses of the Newcastell, to take from me a parcell of pasture.

1626 Scogin's Jests in W. C. Hazlitt Shaks. Jest-bks. (1864) 124 When the king's servants had espied him, they did maintaine their dogges to runne at Scogin.

c. transitive. To give support to (a person doing wrong); to aid or abet in wrongdoing; to back up in error or wickedness. Obsolete.

ΚΠ

c1390 (a1376) W. Langland Piers Plowman (Vernon) (1867) A. iii. 232 To Meyntene Misdoers Meede þei taken.

c1400 (c1378) W. Langland Piers Plowman (Laud 581) (1869) B. iii. 90 (MED) Syluer to take..Ringes or other ricchesse þe regrateres to maynetene.

?a1425 Mandeville's Trav. (Egerton) (1889) 209 For to mayntene þam in þaire mawmetry and þaire errour.

?a1425 in D. Knoop & G. P. Jones Mediæval Mason (1933) 265 For no mon No fals mantenans he take hym apon Ny maynteine hys felows yn here synne.

?c1430 (?1383) J. Wyclif Sel. Eng. Wks. (1871) III. 323 Officeris þat meyntenen oþere men in synne.

c1475 (c1399) Mum & Sothsegger (Cambr. Ll.4.14) (1936) iii. 311 Thus is the lawe louyd þoru myȝhty lordis willys, Þhat meyneteyne myssdoers more þan oþer peple.

1528 in State Papers Henry VIII (1836) IV. 514 Also I can not perceyve that any redresse can be maid uppon the Borders, for the Kyng of Scottes doth maynteyn all the theves and rebelles of the same.

1562 Certayn Serm. preached in Lincs. in H. Latimer 27 Serm. ^ii. f. 81 O crafty deuil: he went away, not for feare of the holy water, but because he would mayntaine men in errour and foolishnes.

1567 in Facsimiles National MSS Scotl. (1871) III. lv Rather she apperit to fortefie and mantene the said Erll Boithuile..in the saidis wickit crymes.

d. transitive. Law. To give support to (a party) in an action in which one has no legally recognized interest. Cf. sense 6b; also maintenance n. 1. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

society > law > rule of law > lawlessness > specific offences > [verb (transitive)] > give support to litigant illegally

maintain1716

1716 W. Hawkins Pleas Crown i. 249 Of this second kind of Maintenance there seem to be three Species:..2. Where one maintains one Side, to have Part of the Thing in Suit, which is called Champerty.

1716 W. Hawkins Pleas Crown i. 252 A Man may lawfully maintain those who are infeoffed of Lands in Trust for him in any Action concerning those Lands.

1836 P. Bingham New Cases Court Common Pleas 2 650 The Defendant..has voluntarily and officiously undertaken to maintain the Plaintiff in a suit with which the Defendant has no connection.

1886 Law Rep.: Queen's Bench Div. 17 504 The present action was brought by the plaintiff against the defendant to recover the 118l., on the ground that he had ‘maintained’ Nailer in the former action.

2. transitive. To give one's support to, defend, uphold, promote (a cause, something established, one's side or interest, etc.).

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > easiness > aid, help, or assistance > support > [verb (transitive)]

lasteOE

i-hentc1225

uphold?c1225

upbeara1300

sustainc1300

understand13..

uplift1338

maintainc1350

supporta1393

underset1395

buttressc1400

supprise1447

bolster1508

stay1526

undershore?a1534

underpropa1535

to hold up by the chin1546

back1548

suborn1548

suffult?c1550

upshore?1567

shoulder1577

upstay1600

underwrite1609

abone1622

crutch1641

float1823

backstop1956

c1350 Apocalypse St. John: A Version (Harl. 874) (1961) 92 (MED) [The devil] sett coueitise to meigntene [v.r. maynten] leccherie.

?a1400 (a1338) R. Mannyng Chron. (Petyt) (1996) i. 6427 Þe Frankis..ros agayn Conan to fight; bot Conan mayntend wele his right.

?c1430 (?1383) J. Wyclif Sel. Eng. Wks. (1871) III. 322 Alle þat taken and meyntenen false causes ben cursed grevously... Also lordis holdynge grete lovedaies, and bi here lordischip meyntenenge þe fals pert, for money frendischip or favour, fallen opynly in þis curs, and so don men of lawe, wiþ alle false witnesses þat meyntenen falsenesse aȝenst treuþe, wityngly or unwittyngly.

a1450 York Plays (1885) 396 Þat we mayntayne and stand þerby Þat werke all-way.

a1450 York Plays (1885) 397 Ȝis, sir, þat dede schall we mayntayne.

1482 Surtees Misc. (1888) 40 Every trew Cristen man..is bunden forto supporte and maynteyn y^e trewth.

1487 (a1380) J. Barbour Bruce (St. John's Cambr.) x. 289 He hyet honor and largess, And ay mantemyt richtwisnes.

c1500 (?a1475) Assembly of Gods (1896) 747 (MED) Vertew dyd hys besy peyn Pepyll to reyse hys quarell to menteyn.

a1522 G. Douglas tr. Virgil Æneid (1960) xi. xii. 114 By hurtis feill for to manteym thar rycht.

1535 Bible (Coverdale) Psalms ix. 4 For thou hast manteyned my right and my cause.

1558 J. Knox First Blast against Monstruous Regiment Women f. 7 Suche as oght to mainteine the truth and veritie of God.

1560 J. Daus tr. J. Sleidane Commentaries f. cxxij The true and holsome doctrine is..euery where oppressed,..and open crymes mainteined.

1638 R. Baker tr. J. L. G. de Balzac New Epist. II. 16 The cause I maintaine is the cause of my Prince and Country.

1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost vi. 30 Who single hast maintaind Against revolted multitudes the Cause Of Truth.

1678 S. Butler Hudibras: Third Pt. iii. iii. 228 H' had..us'd two equal ways of gaining, By hindring justice, or maintaining.

1698 N. Tate & N. Brady New Version Psalms of David (new ed.) 80 Possest of absolute Command, Thou Truth and Mercy dost maintain.

1792 E. Burke Let. to H. Langrishe in Wks. (1842) I. 548 First, the king swears he will maintain, to the utmost of his power, ‘the laws of God’.

1844 J. Ruskin Mod. Painters (ed. 2) I. Pref. p. xviii He..who would maintain the cause of contemporary excellence against that of elder time.

1873 A. Trollope Eustace Diamonds II. xxviii. 11 Lady Eustace is determined to maintain her right to the property.

1939 War Illustr. 4 Nov. 283/3 Far-flying squadrons over home waters and foreign seas had splendidly maintained our cause.

a. transitive. To support or uphold in speech or argument; to defend (an opinion, statement, tenet, etc.); to assert the truth or validity of.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > language > statement > maintaining or upholding as true > maintain or uphold as true [verb (transitive)]

haveOE

werea1300

maintainc1350

confirmc1380

sustainc1430

defendc1475

to hold in hand1530

uphold1530

soothea1556

dispute1610

sticklea1661

to hold out1847

claim1864

the mind > attention and judgement > testing > debate, disputation, argument > putting forward for discussion > put forward [verb (transitive)] > support or defend

maintainc1350

to draw one's pen (also quill)1759

c1350 Apocalypse St. John: A Version (Harl. 874) (1961) 110 (MED) Þe holy Men & wymmen..stedfastlich helden þe bileue of þe resureccioun..& meigntened it aȝein þe tirauntz in þis werlde.

a1425 (a1400) Prick of Conscience (Galba & Harl.) (1863) 3080 Yhit has men herd som clerkes maynte [ne] Swilk an opinion, als I wene, Þat a saule [etc.].

?c1430 (?1383) J. Wyclif Sel. Eng. Wks. (1871) III. 323 Clerkis þat don evyl and meyntene it bi sotilte of word.

c1449 R. Pecock Repressor (1860) 5 (MED) The othere vntrewe opiniouns..muste..lacke it wherbi thei miȝten in eny colour..be mentened, holde, and supportid.

?c1450 Pistel of Swete Susan (Pierpont Morgan) 220 (MED) Þies wordes þat we say On þis womman verray Þat wil we mayntan for aye.

c1480 (a1400) St. Katherine 390 in W. M. Metcalfe Legends Saints Sc. Dial. (1896) II. 453 Quhy suld þu..A madine thole..þis lang Manteyng a-gane our godis wra[n]g.

1512 Act 4 Hen. VIII c. 19 Preamble The seid Frensche Kyng..alway erronyously defendyng & maynteynyng his seid obstynate opynyons agayne the unitye of the holye Churche.

1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 617/1 And he ones saye a thyng, he wyll mayntayne it to dye for it.

1573 in J. Cranstoun Satirical Poems Reformation (1891) I. xlii. 92 The veritie we may mantine.

c1616 R. C. Times' Whistle (1871) v. 2120 What phisitian..would..such a lye maintaine?

1651 T. Hobbes Leviathan ii. xxx. 180 The doctrines maintained by so many Preachers.

1686 A. Horneck Crucified Jesus xi. 205 This point they do so stiffly, and so uncharitably maintain.

1725 D. Cotes tr. L. E. Du Pin New Eccl. Hist. 17th Cent. I. vi. ii. 228 He was confident in his Sentiments, and maintain'd them obstinately and opinionatively.

1790 Coll. Voy. round World V. ix. 1649 They also, in some degree, maintain our old doctrine of planetary influence.

1825 Q. Rev. 33 158 These opinions were maintained by Roman Catholics in England within the last ten years.

1856 R. Whately Bacon's Ess. i. 10 It is not enough to believe what you maintain; you must maintain what you believe, and maintain it because you believe it.

1909 R. Law Tests of Life v. 69 This the writer maintains with unexampled strenuousness and rigour.

1957 G. Ryle in M. Black Importance of Lang. (1962) 166 All three maintained the doctrine of a third realm of non~physical, nonpsychological entities.

1990 J. Masson Final Analysis v. 107 They salved their consciences by rigidly maintaining the doctrine that external reality counted for little.

b. transitive. With clause: to affirm, assert, or contend (that). With object and infinitive (now somewhat archaic): to assert (something) to be (etc.); †also in passive.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > language > statement > assertion or affirmation > [verb (transitive)]

vowc1330

anferme1340

affirma1382

willa1382

threapc1386

avow1393

to make oneself strongc1425

maintain?c1430

protest1440

traverse1491

assure1509

ferma1525

verc1540

profess1542

enforce1579

justify1579

aver1582

to take on1583

asserta1604

will1614

assevera1618

positive1656

autume1661

declare1709

obtesta1722

predicate1782

asseveratea1847

?c1430 (c1383) J. Wyclif Eng. Wks. (1880) 10 (MED) Þei seyn and meyntenen in scole..þat þe wordis of holy writt ben false.

1494 Loutfut MS f. 1, in Dict. Older Sc. Tongue at Maintene That ilkan of the saidis parteis wald say and manteine till haff be thar office..to be nerraste before the Kingis persoun.

c1550 Complaynt Scotl. (1979) xi. 82 The..scottis men that duellis in the vest or in the northt of ingland, thai men suere and menteme that thai var borne in the..the southt partis of ingland.

1593 R. Hooker Of Lawes Eccl. Politie iii. viii. 146 Because we maintaine that in scripture we are taught all things necessary vnto saluation.

1608 W. Shakespeare King Lear ii. 72 I haue often heard him maintaine it to be fit, that [etc.] .

1646 Sir T. Browne Pseudodoxia Epidemica iii. xxiv. 169 Some [animals] there are in the Land which were never maintained to be in the Sea, as Panthers, Hyæna's [etc.] .

1652 M. Nedham tr. J. Selden Of Dominion of Sea 203 It is mainteined by divers learned Men that these were the ruins of the same Tower.

1682 J. Dryden Medall 6 He..Maintains the Multitude can never err.

1729 Bp. J. Butler Serm. in Wks. (1874) II. Pref. 24 The Epicureans..maintained that absence of pain was the highest happiness.

1763 Dict. Arts & Sci. I. 238/2 The Latin Church..maintain, that the bread in the mass ought to be azymous.

1849 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. I. ii. 195 The country, he maintained, would never be well governed till [etc.].

1875 B. Jowett tr. Plato Dialogues (ed. 2) V. 222 Pleasure and pain I maintain to be the first perceptions of children.

1919 P. G. Wodehouse Damsel in Distress xvii. 199 ‘No answer, m'lady. Those was his very words,’ stoutly maintained the black-souled boy.

1964 G. Vidal Julian ii. 17 Constantius maintained that there was a plot against his life.

1985 J. Berman Talking Cure i. 9 Freud..took offense when Havelock Ellis maintained he was not a scientist but an artist.

4. transitive. To hold, keep, defend (a place, position, or possession) against hostility or attack, actual or threatened. to maintain one's ground (often figurative). Also reflexive: to make a stand, defend one's position; similarly †to maintain one's own.

ΘΚΠ

society > armed hostility > defence > holding out or making stand > hold out or make stand [verb (intransitive)]

standOE

hold1154

to maintain one's owna1375

to hold or keep (one's) stalec1450

subsist1588

to hold out1769

society > armed hostility > defence > holding out or making stand > hold [verb (transitive)] > hold (a position, etc.)

hold1154

werec1330

maintaina1375

the mind > will > decision > constancy or steadfastness > be constant or steadfast [verb (intransitive)]

standeOE

cleavec1275

to stand stiffa1290

stick1447

to stand or stick to one's tackling1529

to stand in this1538

to set down (the or one's) staff1584

to stand one's ground1600

to stand to one's pan pudding1647

to maintain one's ground1736

to nail one's colours (also flag) to the mast (also masthead)1808

to stay put1843

to stand firm1856

to sit tight1890

to keep the flag flying1914

to dig in one's toes1933

to hold the line1956

a1375 (c1350) William of Palerne (1867) 3642 (MED) His men miȝt nouȝt meyntene here owne.

a1400 Siege Jerusalem (Laud) (1932) 927 (MED) Othis..Þat four monþes & mor hadde mayntened þe croune.

c1450 (?a1400) Wars Alexander (Ashm.) 1972 (MED) Miȝt þou þe marches of Messedoyne mayntene þi-selfe.

a1522 G. Douglas tr. Virgil Æneid (1957) iv. v. 81 And now that secund Paris,..By reif mantemys hir suld ouris be.

1595 S. Daniel First Fowre Bks. Ciuile Warres iv. xlvi. sig. V3^v Bedford who our onely hold maintaind.

1615 G. Sandys Relation of Journey 217 A fort maintained by a small garrison of Moores.

a1616 W. Shakespeare Henry V (1623) iii. vi. 92 Flu. The Duke of Exeter ha's very gallantly maintain'd the Pridge.

a1616 W. Shakespeare King John (1623) iii. iv. 136 A Scepter snatch'd with an vnruly hand, Must be as boysterously maintain'd as gain'd.

a1625 J. Fletcher Rule a Wife (1640) iii. 37 I stand upon the ground of mine own honour And will maintaine it.

1660 F. Brooke tr. V. Le Blanc World Surveyed 15 There are four avenues cut through the Mountain, easie to be maintained.

1736 Bp. J. Butler Analogy of Relig. i. iii. 59 In this Case then, brute Force might more than maintain its Ground against Reason.

a1771 T. Gray Ess. I in W. Mason Mem. Life & Writings (1775) 199 An Iron-race the mountain-cliffs maintain.

1792 J. Almon Anecd. Life W. Pitt (octavo ed.) I. xviii. 283 The King of Prussia, though surrounded by his numerous enemies, maintained himself with astonishing skill and valour.

1849 G. P. R. James Woodman I. iv. 77 She maintained her ground, although the Moor rode close up to her with his companions.

1854 J. H. Newman Lect. Hist. Turks iv. i. 218 Venice..by a system of jealous and odious tyranny,..continued to maintain its ground.

1893 Sir L. Griffin in 19th Cent. Nov. 684 Our subsidies and open support have enabled Abdur Rahman Khan to maintain himself against his many enemies.

1956 W. S. Churchill Hist. Eng.-speaking Peoples II. iv. i. 6 The Church in Rome..proved able to maintain itself through a long series of religious wars.

Thesaurus »

Categories »

a. transitive. To support (one's state in life) by expenditure, etc.

b. transitive. To sustain (life) by nourishment.

ΘΚΠ

the world > food and drink > food > providing or receiving food > feed or nourish [verb (transitive)] > maintain life with food

nourishc1300

contain1579

maintain1584

rack1659

the world > food and drink > food > consumption of food or drink > eating > eat [verb (transitive)] > maintain life with food

to fare witha1340

contain1579

maintain1584

c1385 G. Chaucer Knight's Tale 1441 Theseus..gaf him gold to mayntene his degree.

1487 (a1380) J. Barbour Bruce (St. John's Cambr.) x. 779 The king..to manteyn his stat him gaff Rentis and landis.

1495 Act 11 Hen. VII c. 39 He hath not yerely revenues to maynteyn honorably and convenyently the astate of a Duke.

1584 T. Cogan Hauen of Health iii. 21 Nature hath taught all liuing creatures to seeke by sustenaunce to maintaine their liues.

1606 No-body & Some-body sig. B4 Nobody takes them in, prouides them harbor, Maintaines their ruind fortunes at his charge.

a1616 W. Shakespeare Henry VI, Pt. 2 (1623) iv. ix. 22 Sufficeth, that I haue maintaines my state.

1637 W. Alexander Doomes-day (new ed.) viii. xii. 168 in Recreations with Muses Whil'st old (and poore perchance) with toyle and strife, Glad (by his labour) to maintaine his life.

1647 C. Cotterell & W. Aylesbury tr. E. C. Davila Hist. Civill Warres France i. 21 Finding the narrownesse of his fortune could not maintain the greatnesse of his birth.

1856 J. A. Froude Hist. Eng. (1858) I. i. 52 The first condition of a worthy life was the ability to maintain it in independence.

1856 B. Brodie Psychol. Inq. (ed. 3) I. v. 187 Food is required because life cannot be maintained without it.

1887 Encycl. Brit. XXII. 409 The so-called ‘famine-bread’..which has maintained the life of so many arctic travellers.

a1911 D. G. Phillips Susan Lenox (1917) II. i. 14 She was now reduced to an income below what life can be decently maintained upon.

1991 J. Gavin Intimate Nights x. 315 The rewards were unheard of for a ‘saloon singer’, as Short called himself: a huge midtown apartment, a personal secretary..and a life-style that cost more and more to maintain.

†c. transitive. To bear the expense of, afford. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

society > trade and finance > payment > pay money or things [verb (transitive)] > bear or defray the cost of

quitc1275

maintaina1425

pay1446

fray1450

abye1503

price?a1513

be1520

to stand to ——1540

disburse1548

defray1581

discharge1587

reimburse1591

discount1647

to be at the charge(s of1655

to pay off1711

stand1808

pop1947

a1425 (?a1400) G. Chaucer Romaunt Rose (Hunterian) 1144 Richesse myght..hir dispence well mayntene.

1605 London Prodigall i. i But honesty maintains not a French hood, Goes very seldom in a chain of gold.

a1616 W. Shakespeare Taming of Shrew (1623) v. i. 69 What cernes it you, if I weare Pearle and gold: I thank my good Father, I am able to maintaine it.

a. transitive. To pay for the upkeep of; to keep (a ship, garrison, etc.) supplied or equipped; to keep (a light) burning by supply of fuel; to keep (a road, a building, etc.) in repair; to take action to preserve (a machine, etc.) in working order.

ΘΚΠ

society > trade and finance > payment > pay money or things [verb (transitive)] > bear or defray the cost of > of maintenance or upkeep

sustainc1350

maintain1389

support1431

sustaina1325

maintain1389

1389 in J. T. Smith & L. T. Smith Eng. Gilds (1870) 27 Þis light þey hoten & a-vowed to kepyn & myntenyn.

1389 in J. T. Smith & L. T. Smith Eng. Gilds (1870) 62 To meyteyn wit-al a lythe brennynge in ye chyrche.

1435 Rolls of Parl. IV. 490/1 Ye saide pouere Toune of Caleys, yat by ye continuance of ye saide Staple hath hiderto been gretly maintened and strengthed, like to bee defaited and lost.

a1500 in F. B. Bickley Little Red Bk. Bristol (1900) II. 151 (MED) The saide Jorney men..shall kepe, ordeine, and menteine the saide light.

1533–4 Act 25 Hen. VIII c. 8 Euerie person..hauinge anie of the saide landes..shall..sufficiently meintein the pauement of the said waye.

a1578 R. Lindsay Hist. & Cron. Scotl. (1899) I. 227 Witht tua schipis weill mantenitt and artaillzeit.

1600 J. Pory tr. J. Leo Africanus Geogr. Hist. Afr. v. 237 Here is an hospitall maintained at the common charges of the towne, to entertaine strangers that passe by.

1611 Bible (King James) 1 Esdras iv. 52 Tenne talents yeerely, to maintaine the burnt offerings vpon the Altar euery day.

1617 F. Moryson Itinerary i. 55 The States maintained some men of warre in this Inland Sea.

a1687 W. Petty Polit. Arithm. (1692) 77 The annual charge of maintaining the Shipping of England, by new Buildings and Preparations.

1707 J. Chamberlayne Angliæ Notitia (ed. 22) iii. ix. 341 They..maintain Lectures upon the Holy Sacrament of the Lord's Supper, almost every Lord's Day Evening.

1725 D. Defoe New Voy. round World ii. 112 Strong Forts erected..and strong Garrisons maintained in them.

1779 in F. Chase Hist. Dartmouth Coll. (1891) I. 562 To maintain said mills by repairing the present buildings.

1830 J. Baxter Libr. Agric. & Hort. Knowl. 429 Stone, wood, and iron, are the materials principally employed in making and maintaining roads.

1861 M. Pattison in Westm. Rev. Apr. 415 The Germans..maintained in it [sc. a church] an altar.

1891 C. Roberts Adrift in Amer. 37 A school section is a section of land..set apart by the Government for the purpose of raising funds for building and maintaining schools.

1938 J. Charlesworth Law of Negligence vii. 133 Where a refuge was erected in the middle of the street, and inadequately lighted, so that a taxi-cab collided with it in the dark because..owing to war restrictions, no lights were maintained.

1961 E. Roosevelt Autobiogr. iii. xxix. 296 The government had taken over some of the country's historic houses that the owners could no longer afford to maintain.

1984 Which Micro? Dec. 70/2 The software is not easily understandable and difficult to maintain.

b. transitive. To provide the means for conducting (a suit or action at law). Cf. sense 1d.

ΘΚΠ

society > law > administration of justice > court proceedings or procedure > action of courts in claims or grievances > carry on or institute (an action) [verb (transitive)] > furnish means for an action

maintain?c1430

?c1430 [see sense 2].

1540 Act 32 Hen. VIII c. 9 §3 That no maner of personne..doo herafter unlaufully maineteyne or cause or procure any unlaufull mayntenance in any action.

1769 W. Blackstone Comm. Laws Eng. IV. 134 A man may however maintain the suit of his near kinsman, servant, or poor neighbour, out of charity and compassion, with impunity.

1843 R. Meeson & W. N. Welsby Rep. Cases Exchequer (1844) XI. 676 The defendants resisted and maintained, supported, &c. such defences and resistance.

II. To (cause to) continue, keep up, preserve.

a. transitive. To keep up, preserve, cause to continue in being (a state of things, a condition, an activity, etc.); to keep vigorous, effective, or unimpaired; to guard from loss or deterioration.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > possession > retaining > retain or keep [verb (transitive)] > keep, maintain, or preserve

holdc1000

i-haldOE

keepc1175

withholdc1200

keepa1325

maintaina1375

preservea1393

a1375 (c1350) William of Palerne (1867) 2676 (MED) Meyntenes ȝit ȝoure manchip manli a while.

?a1400 (a1338) R. Mannyng Chron. (Petyt) ii. 60 Eldolf, bisshop of Bath, þe pes mayntend & helde.

a1450 York Plays (1885) 137 I rede we reste a thrawe, For to maynteyne our myght.

1487 (a1380) J. Barbour Bruce (St. John's Cambr.) xx. 605 The law sa weill mantemyt he And held in pes swa the cuntre.

a1535 T. More Hist. Edward V (1641) 29 He..had holpe to maintaine a long continued grudge.

1581 R. Mulcaster Positions vi. 42 How health is maintained, and disease auoided.

1651 T. Hobbes Leviathan ii. xxx. 175 It is the Office of the Soveraign, to maintain those Rights entire.

1675 H. Neville tr. N. Machiavelli Prince iii, in tr. N. Machiavelli Wks. 200 Maintaining to them their old condition.

1742 D. Hume Ess. (1777) I. i. v. 35 All men are sensible of the necessity of justice to maintain peace and order.

1855 A. Bain Senses & Intellect i. i. 74 Nervous influence is required for maintaining the breathing action.

1855 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. III. xi. 43 All that was necessary for the purpose of maintaining military discipline.

1871 B. Jowett tr. Plato Dialogues I. 26 As he had a reputation to maintain.

1936 G. Greene in Spectator 31 July 199/2 Laburnum Grove maintains the promise of his first picture, Masterman Ready.

1970 N. Chomsky At War with Asia (1971) iii. 100 Prince Sihanouk managed to maintain neutrality by a delicate balancing act.

1987 D. Rowe Beyond Fear ii. 80 Powerful people..establish and maintain their power by creating fear in others.

†b. transitive. With concrete object: to preserve in existence. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

maintaina1475

a1475 Sidrak & Bokkus (Lansd.) (Ph.D. diss., Univ. of Washington) (1965) 2821 Þe water in-to erthe sinketh, And al þe erthe þe water drinketh For to maintene al þinge Þat waxeþ in þe erthe springinge.

a1542 T. Wyatt Coll. Poems (1969) 79 One only hope hath staide my lyff apart, Wych doth perswade such wordes vnto my sory mynd. ‘Mayntene thy sellff, O wofull spryte, some better luk to fynd.’

1659 J. Pearson Expos. Apostles Creed ii. 310 We are still preserved by his power, and as he made us, so doth he maintain us.

1715 D. Defoe Family Instructor I. i. i. 19 And by the same Power preserves and maintains all things.

a. transitive. To carry on, keep up, prosecute (a war, fight, contest, etc.); to sustain (a siege).

ΘΚΠ

society > armed hostility > [verb (transitive)] > continue hostilities against

maintaina1375

a1375 (c1350) William of Palerne (1867) 3002 (MED) Here men..faileden of here mete, þat þei miȝt in no maner meyntene þe sege.

?a1400 (a1338) R. Mannyng Chron. (Petyt) (1996) i. 5375 I salle maynten [a1450 Lamb. vndertake] forþe þis were.

a1425 (?a1400) G. Chaucer Romaunt Rose (Hunterian) 3550 I pray you..For to mayntene no lenger heer Such cruel werre agayn youre man.

a1475 Sidrak & Bokkus (Lansd.) (Ph.D. diss., Univ. of Washington) (1965) 24 (MED) King Bokkus him biþoght Þat he wolde haue a citee wroght..for to maintene wel his were.

1487 (a1380) J. Barbour Bruce (St. John's Cambr.) x. 184 Quhill at thar rout,..Cum for to maynteme the melle.

1487 (a1380) J. Barbour Bruce (St. John's Cambr.) xiii. 280 Thai that wicht war and hardy,..At gret myschef mantemyt the ficht.

1560 J. Daus tr. J. Sleidane Commentaries f. cxxxvij Than had Charles Duke of Sauoye, a certen space maynteyned warre against the Citie of Geneua.

1665 T. Manley tr. H. Grotius De Rebus Belgicis 277 To..raise a Siege which is so strongly setled and maintained.

1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Georgics iv, in tr. Virgil Wks. 126 Long the doubtful Combat they maintain, Till one prevails (for one can only Reign).

1707 London Gaz. No. 4386/2 3 French Privateers..attack'd a Dutch Ship.., who maintain'd a running Fight.

1781 E. Gibbon Decline & Fall III. xxxi. 259 The father maintained a siege within the walls of Arles.

1828 W. Scott Fair Maid of Perth vi, in Chron. Canongate 2nd Ser. III. 151 It is false..I..will maintain the combat with him that shall call it true.

1881 A. Trollope Dr. Wortle's School I. iii. 51 He was about to go away South, into Mexico, with the view of pushing his fortune there with certain desperadoes, who were maintaining a perpetual war against the authorities of the United States.

1933 D. Garnett Pocahontas 51 The enemy did not maintain a regular siege.

1957 W. S. Churchill Hist. Eng.-speaking Peoples III. ix. v. 242 Since the renewal of war Britain had found herself alone against Napoleon, and for two years she maintained the struggle single-handed during one of the most critical periods in her history.

1983 A. Bullock Ernest Bevin iv. 157 The Russian war of nerves against the Turks was maintained throughout 1945.

†b. transitive. gen. To go on with, continue, persevere in (an undertaking). Also (occasionally): to go on with the use of (something). Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > continuing > continue (an action) [verb (transitive)]

i-haldOE

to hold fortha1325

sustainc1325

containc1330

continuea1340

maintainc1385

carrya1393

keepc1425

to keep upa1535

to stick by ——1551

to hold on1568

to hold out1595

to carry on1609

subsist1633

to keep at ——1825

the mind > will > decision > perseverance or persistence > persevere or persist in [verb (transitive)]

to stand in ——a1382

maintainc1385

willc1400

to stand fortha1425

to stick to ——1525

to tug out1631

worry1727

to stick out1833

to stick at ——1845

slog1846

stay1956

to chase up1958

c1385 G. Chaucer Knight's Tale 920 A proud despitous man That wol maynteyne that he first bigan.

1489 (a1380) J. Barbour Bruce (Adv.) ii. 189 Frendis, and frendschip purchesand, To maynteym that he had begunnyn.

a1500 tr. A. Chartier Traité de l'Esperance (Rawl.) (1974) 15 Many anguisches..stoppe soo moche thi passages that thou art ferde to take any passge vpon the for it is greuouse to be maynteined.

1526 W. Bonde Pylgrimage of Perfection i. sig. Dvii Bycause they shulde waxe feble afterwarde, and so to be nat able to mayntayne their iourney.

1545 R. Ascham Toxophilus To Gentlem. Eng. Some shooters take in hande stronger bowes, than they be able to mayntayne.

c. transitive. To carry on (an action at law); to have grounds for sustaining (an action).

ΘΚΠ

society > law > administration of justice > court proceedings or procedure > action of courts in claims or grievances > carry on or institute (an action) [verb (transitive)]

bringc1000

move1379

pursue1384

leada1400

suea1422

raise1436

maintain1456

conceive1467

persecute1483

implead1554

suscitate1560

solicit?a1562

intenda1578

intent1630

society > trade and finance > payment > pay money or things [verb (transitive)] > bear or defray the cost of > of maintenance or upkeep > of a lawsuit

maintain1456

1456 in W. Brown Yorks. Deeds (1909) 25 Yf the same John Wodcote mayntene and avowe all sich accions..for to ask, opteyn, and recover the forsaide tenementes.

1463–4 Rolls of Parl. V. 506/2 To have and maynten Action or Actions of Dette.

1512 Act 3 Hen. VIII c. 1 §4 Any maner of accion..to be..mayntened ayenst any of the Kingis Subgiettes.

1620 J. Wilkinson Treat. Statutes conc. Coroners & Sherifes (new ed.) 67 No sherife shall suffer a Barreter to maintaine any actions or quarrels in their countie courts.

1785 T. Jefferson Notes Virginia xvi. 286 By our laws..no alien can hold lands, nor alien enemy maintain an action for money, or other moveable thing.

1818 W. Cruise Digest Laws Eng. Real Prop. (ed. 2) II. 417 This Court granted an injunction against him, though no action whatsoever could be maintained at law.

1892 Law Times Rep. 67 142/1 In order to maintain an action of deceit there must be moral delinquency on the part of the person proceeded against.

1946 Supreme Court Reporter (U.S.) 65 139/2 She may maintain an action in the Superior Court to have a ‘reasonable subsistence’ allotted and paid to her.

1998 Federal Reporter 132 937/2 Applying the three-prong test, we hold that private plaintiffs may maintain an action under discriminatory effect regulations.

d. transitive. To keep up (friendly relations, correspondence).

ΘΚΠ

society > society and the community > social relations > have social communication with [verb (transitive)] > keep up (relations)

maintain1622

1622 F. Bacon Hist. Raigne Henry VII 240 When they [sc. ambassadors] were returned, they did commonly maintaine Intelligence with him.

1654 T. Gataker Disc. Apol. 26 I maintained a good correspondence..with the moderater sort on either side.

1718 Free-thinker No. 79. 2 A brotherly Correspondence was maintained with all the Foreign Protestant Churches.

1773 W. Hastings Diary 21 Aug. (1948) 6 The Vizier added that the Abdallee maintained a Correspondence with the Rohellas.

1847 Mem. Union of Secession & Relief Churches 7 To begin and maintain a friendly intercourse with the Synod of Relief.

1867 J. L. Motley Let. 12 Mar. in Corr. (1889) II. vii. 255 You..have actually maintained this one-legged correspondence through all those years.

1928 H. C. Hoover Mem. (1952) II. 213 We have a desire to maintain not only the cordial relations of governments with each other but the relations of good neighbors.

1984 A. N. Wilson Hilaire Belloc ii. xiv. 325 He maintained a constant correspondence with Katharine Asquith.

e. transitive. To continue in, preserve, retain (a physical or mental condition, a position, attitude, etc.), in spite of disturbing influences.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > will > decision > constancy or steadfastness > adhere constantly or steadfastly to [verb (transitive)]

to stand in ——a1382

abidea1393

saddena1500

to bide bya1513

to stick to ——?1531

to stout out1568

to make good1606

winter1608

buckle1793

maintain1819

1819 W. Scott Ivanhoe II. iv. 59 They rode side by side for some time, during which Gurth maintained a moody silence. At length he could repress his feelings no longer.

1837 B. Disraeli Venetia I. 110 Lady Annabel for some time maintained complete silence.

1879 R. K. Douglas Confucianism iii. 72 The Sage..maintains a perfect uprightness and pursues the heavenly way without the slightest deflection.

1898 G. W. E. Russell Coll. & Recoll. x. 131 Amidst all this hurly burly Pitt maintained a stately..reserve.

1923 W. Cather Lost Lady ii. v. 137 Even after their misfortunes had begun to come upon them, she had maintained her old reserve.

1940 H. L. Mencken Diary 9 June (1989) 147 Instead of trying, in a day of demagogic buncombe and mass hysteria, to maintain a rational point of view and avoid emotion, he has marched with the procession, and even ahead of it.

1989 HMV Christmas Mag. 13 [Iron] Maiden suffered numerous early personnel changes, but have always maintained a happy-go-lucky attitude to their sword'n'sorcery metal.

†9. transitive. To practise habitually (a good, bad, etc., action); to (continue to) observe (a rule, custom). Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > behaviour > customary or habitual mode of behaviour > do habitually [verb (transitive)]

usec1300

maintain1384

observec1390

custom1392

practic?a1425

practise?c1430

frequent1485

to have in wonea1500

wont1530

trade1550

to make a practice of1722

1384 in R. W. Chambers & M. Daunt Bk. London Eng. (1931) 24 (MED) Al the ordinances..wer they neuer so badde, sholden haue be meigtened euer more.

a1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) iv. 3433 (MED) Tristesce..forto meintiene his folie..hath with him Obstinacie.

a1400 (c1303) R. Mannyng Handlyng Synne (Harl.) 6558 Þou manteynest an euyl custum.

a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Fairf. 14) 2454 (MED) Þa folk ware fulle of misdede, and maynteined wrang and wikkedhede.

a1500 (c1340) R. Rolle Psalter (Univ. Oxf. 64) (1884) xxvii. 5 Tha sall thai be punyst that first fyndes thaim, and all that oyses thaim & mayntens thaim [sc. ill deeds].

c1540 (?a1400) Gest Historiale Destr. Troy 2049 How þai maintene þere malis with manas & pride.

1549 R. Crowley Voyce Laste Trumpet sig. Cviii Thou wylt..maintaine outragiouse play Til thou haue spent both land and fee.

1611 Bible (King James) Titus iii. 14 And let ours also learne to maintaine good workes [Greek καλῶν ἔργων προίστασθαι] for necessarie vses, that they be not vnfruitfull.

a1650 D. Calderwood Hist. Kirk Scotl. (1843) II. 148 When suche as now onlie mainteaned her masse were exiled.

10.

a. transitive. To cause to continue in a specified state, relation, or position, or at a specified level or number; †to secure the continuance of (a possession) to a person (obsolete); †to secure (a person) in continued possession of property (obsolete).

ΘΚΠ

the world > time > change > absence of change, changelessness > maintaining state or condition > maintain [verb (transitive)]

i-haldOE

sustainc1300

keepc1315

maintainc1390

conservea1425

continuec1460

entertain1490

persevere1502

uphold?1523

containa1538

petrifya1631

conservate1647

to keep on1669

to keep up1670

preserve1677

support1696

fix1712

ossify1800

fossilize1848

the world > action or operation > easiness > aid, help, or assistance > support > support or encouragement > support or encourage [verb (transitive)] > support or defend

to stand by ——OE

to speak for ——a1300

to stand for ——1384

maintainc1390

to stand up for1562

to stand out for?c1576

to stand to ——1582

patronize1595

stickle1632

to stick up for1792

championize1840

champion1844

to take up the cudgels1869

c1390 in C. Horstmann Minor Poems Vernon MS (1892) i. 129 (MED) To þi sone vs dresse, And preye hym þat he vs blesse And mayntyme in sonde.

a1400 (a1325) Chron. Robert of Gloucester (Trin. Cambr.) (1887) App. XX. 843 Þe amperesse..made him oþ swere To meinteini engelond to hure.

?c1430 (c1383) J. Wyclif Eng. Wks. (1880) 24 (MED) To procure, norische, & meyntene cristen soulis in good gouernaile and holy lif.

1559 in J. Stuart Misc. Spalding Club (1849) IV. 91 [To] menten his kirk in the awin libertye.

c1600 W. Fowler tr. N. Machiavelli Prince in Wks. (1936) II. 94 He mantened always these factions..in that same estate quhairin he fand theme.

1642 Sir T. Browne Religio Medici (new ed.) 87 That vertue is her owne reward, is but a cold principle, and not able to maintaine our variable resolutions in a constant and setled way of goodnesse.

1749 J. Cleland Mem. Woman of Pleasure I. 213 Thus we lay, whilst a voluptuous languor possest, and still maintain'd us motionless, and fast lock'd in one another's arms.

1800 A. Addison Rep. Cases Pennsylvania 274 Young contended that M^cCulloch..ought to be maintained in possession of the land.

1874 W. B. Carpenter Princ. Mental Physiol. (1879) i. ii. §68. 71 The limb was maintained in this state of tension for several seconds.

1895 J. M. Falkner Lost Stradivarius vii. 70 A chimney-flue passing through the wall at no great distance had no doubt conducted to maintain the air in the cupboard at an equable temperature.

1917 E. R. Burroughs Princess of Mars x. 96 For ages we have maintained the air and water supply at practically the same point without an appreciable loss.

1939 R. B. Dawson Pract. Lawn Craft xxv. 180 Mowrah meal..does not maintain the turf in worm-free condition for longer than about two years.

1957 I. Asimov Naked Sun ii. 29 The population is deliberately maintained at twenty thousand, that being considered optimum by the Solarians themselves.

1991 Combat & Survival Nov. 30/1 In order to maintain the rate of fire at an acceptable level, the APS also contains a rate-reducer in its mechanism.

†b. transitive. Stock Market. To keep (stock) from decline in price. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

society > trade and finance > stocks and shares > deal in stocks and shares [verb (transitive)] > specific operations

subscribe1618

to take up1655

to sell out1721

to take in1721

to take up1740

pool?1780

capitalize1797

put1814

feed1818

to vote (the) stock (or shares)1819

corner1836

to sell short1852

promote1853

recapitalize1856

refund1857

float1865

water1865

margin1870

unload1870

acquire1877

maintain1881

syndicate1882

scalp1886

pyramid1888

underwrite1889

oversubscribe1891

joint-stock1894

wash1895

write1908

mark1911

split1927

marry1931

stag1935

unwind1958

short1959

preplace1966

unitize1970

bed and breakfast1974

index-link1974

warehouse1977

daisy-chain1979

strip1981

greenmail1984

pull1986

1881 Daily News 8 July 6/1 American railroads are not quite maintained.

1892 Daily Tel. 5 Sept. 4/6 Consols rose ¹/ ₈ per cent. and English railways were maintained.

†11. transitive. To keep in good order, to rule (a people, a country); to preserve in (a state of peace, etc.). Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > safety > protection or defence > preservation from injury or destruction > preserve from injury or destruction [verb (transitive)] > preserve from decay, loss, or destruction > preserve in certain condition

maintaina1400

reservec1400

a1400 (?c1300) Lay Folks Mass Bk. (Royal) (1879) 365 Þat þai be wele mayntenande hore states in alle godnesse.

1487 (a1380) J. Barbour Bruce (St. John's Cambr.) xiii. 709 God grant that thai..maynteyme the land, And hald the folk weill to warrand.

1487 (a1380) J. Barbour Bruce (St. John's Cambr.) xvi. 34 Vardanis in [his] absens maid he, For till manteym weill the cuntre.

a1500 ( J. Yonge tr. Secreta Secret. (Rawl.) (1898) 142 (MED) For by the good kyngis is wel gouernet the roialme and duly mayntene [read mayntened].

c1515 Ld. Berners tr. Bk. Duke Huon of Burdeux (1882–7) lxvi. 228 I have..maynteyned the countre in peace & rest and good iustyce.

1535 Bible (Coverdale) Ecclus. xxxviii. 32 Without these maye not the cities be manteyned, inhabited ner occupied.

1602 S. Patericke (title) A Discovrse vpon the meanes of wel governing and maintaining in good peace, a Kingdome, or other Principalitie.

1647 in J. Stuart Extracts Council Reg. Aberdeen (1872) II. 84 The toun..cannot gudelie be manteined for lack of money.

12.

a. transitive. To provide (oneself, one's family, etc.) with means of subsistence or the necessaries of life; to bear the living, educational, etc., expenses of (a person). Also: †to keep (a person) in clothing (obsolete).

ΘΚΠ

the mind > possession > supply > provide or supply (something) [verb (transitive)] > provide means of support for

findc1225

sustainc1300

found1377

keep1377

maintainc1405

sustent?a1425

support1493

uphold1546

subsist1547

escota1616

fend1637

aliment1660

run1871

grub-stake1879

c1405 (c1390) G. Chaucer Parson's Tale (Hengwrt) 433 Also many a vicious knave mayntened [v.rr. mayntend, Meyntened, mayneted, I-mayntened, ymayntende] by cause of hem.

a1425 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Galba) 28961 (MED) Þe more man es of elde, Þe more men aw him forto belde..And mayntene him for sawl mede.

1487 Dietary (St. John's Cambr.) 60 in J. Barbour Bruce (1877) 539 Eftir thi power maynteme ay thi houshald.

1546 Supplic. Poor Commons sig. b.vii Suche possessioners as..vsed to mayntayn theyr owne chylderne, and some of oures, to lernynge.

1582 N. Lichefield tr. F. L. de Castanheda 1st Bk. Hist. Discouerie E. Indias i. ii. 6 These people doe mainteine themselues with rootes of hearbes,..and whale fish.

a1617 J. Melville Mem. Own Life (1827) 64 Fyfty thousand crownis to mentean fied wageours.

1676 Lady Chaworth in 12th Rep. Royal Comm. Hist. MSS (1890) App. v. 31 [It] frights Sir Carr Scrope..from marying her, saying his estate will scarce maintaine her in clothes.

1709 Tatler No. 101. ⁋1 150l. per Annum, which would very handsomely maintain me and my little family.

1749 H. Fielding Tom Jones VI. xviii. vii. 217 I believe you bred the young Man up, and maintained him at the University.

1770 O. Goldsmith Deserted Village 58 A time there was, ere England's griefs began, When every rood of ground maintained its man.

1816 W. Scott Antiquary II. x*. 279 I maun hae a man that can maintain his wife.

1838 G. P. R. James Robber I. vii. 161 Sufficient, indeed, to maintain me in comfort and independence as a gentleman.

1873 H. Spencer Study Sociol. v. 103 When villeinage had passed away and serfs were no longer maintained by their owners.

1917 S. Leacock Frenzied Fiction vi. 98 Would it prove possible for a man, unaided by our civilised arts and industries, to maintain himself naked..in the heart of the woods?

1946 All Eng. Law Rep. 23 Nov. 577 It is provided that the wife is to support, maintain and educate the child.

1992 Watertown (N.Y.) Daily Times (Sunday ed.) 26 Jan. 10/5 It must reach out to..the oppressed female underclass—nurse's aides, fast-food workers, under-skilled single mothers struggling to maintain families.

b. transitive. To provide for the sustenance of (an animal).

ΘΚΠ

the world > food and drink > food > providing or receiving food > feeding animals > [verb (transitive)]

baitc1400

servea1475

foddera1500

refetea1500

maintain1576

provend1581

provender1584

put1620

meal1630

stall-feed1763

feed1818

board1875

1576 A. Fleming tr. J. Caius Of Eng. Dogges 28 And therfore were certain dogges founde and maintained at the common costes and charges of the Citizens of Rome in the place called Capitolium.

a1687 W. Petty Polit. Anat. Ireland (1691) 53 An Ox of 6 or 7 years old..will be maintained with two Acres of good Pasture.

1772 Ann. Reg. 1771 104/1 Many peasants were under the necessity of unthatching their houses to maintain their cattle.

1894 Country Gentleman's Catal. 14/2 A few acres of autumn cabbage will maintain and fatten..a large flock of sheep.

1983 L. R. Miller & K. Gilman Horses at Work 133 The balance of the land was in hay, grain and pasture rotation to maintain a small herd of Milking Shorthorn cattle.

c. transitive. Medicine. To provide (a patient) with maintenance therapy. Cf. maintenance n. 3c.

ΘΚΠ

the world > health and disease > healing > medical treatment > treatment by medicine or drug > treat with drugs [verb (transitive)] > maintain

maintain1957

1957 Jrnl. Amer. Med. Assoc. 14 Dec. 1970/1 The current discussion..can be reduced to the desirability and feasibility of treating the addict as a total person,..withdrawing drugs.., or of maintaining him on an appropriate amount of drugs if it is determined he cannot be successfully cured of his addiction.

1968 New Eng. Jrnl. Med. 8 Feb. 288/2 The patients..were admitted to the Clinical Center and maintained on a diet essentially free of purines.

1972 Science 26 May 881/1 In April 1971, a program was inaugurated to maintain at least 20,000 addicts on methadone in New York State alone.

1987 D. J. Weatherall et al. Oxf. Textbk. Med. (ed. 2) I. v. 505/2 Patients at unusually high risk for the pneumonitis should be maintained on 5.0 mg trimethoprim and 25 mg sulphamethoxazole per kg per day.

†13.

a. transitive (reflexive). To bear or conduct oneself in a specified manner. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > behaviour > behave or conduct oneself [verb (reflexive)]

wieldOE

leadc1175

bear?c1225

steera1250

to take onc1275

contain1297

to shift one's handa1300

demeanc1320

guyc1325

govern1340

keep1362

havec1390

rulec1390

guide14..

conceivea1425

maintain?a1425

maynea1425

behavec1440

disporta1450

orderc1487

use1497

handle?1529

convey1530

gesture1542

treat1568

carry1584

deport1598

bestow1606

comport1616

mienc1680

conduct1706

society > armed hostility > defence > holding out or making stand > hold out [verb (reflexive)]

maintain?a1425

?a1425 (c1400) Mandeville's Trav. (Titus C.xvi) (1919) 103 Thei gon..to help of oþer kynges in here werres..And þei meyntenen hemself right vygouresly.

1481 W. Caxton tr. Siege & Conqueste Jerusalem (1893) lxxvi. (heading) How Tancre mayntenyd hym moche wel in conqueryng contrees.

1489 (a1380) J. Barbour Bruce (Adv.) ii. 486 Bot always, as A man off mayn, He mayntemyt him full manlyly.

1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 617/1 You shall se me mayntayne my selfe so honestly that you shall prayse me.

c1650 J. Spalding Memorialls Trubles Scotl. & Eng. (1850) I. 239 The admirall..mantaynde him self couragiouslie in the efter pairt..3 houris long.

b. transitive (reflexive). To continue in an action or state; to keep oneself resolutely in a specified state (indicated by adjectival complement). Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the world > time > change > absence of change, changelessness > maintaining state or condition > maintain oneself [verb (reflexive)]

keep1362

maintain1481

1481 W. Caxton tr. Siege & Conqueste Jerusalem (1893) clxxviii. 262 They shold alle goo vnto the mount of Olyuet, And they shold mayntene them this day in fastyng.

1597 F. Bacon Ess. f. 11^v Great men that haue strength in themselues were better to maintaine themselues indifferent and neutrall.

1637 N. Whiting Le Hore di Recreatione 37 She, That can maintaine herselfe, in love can me.

†14. transitive. To keep a stock of. Obsolete. rare.

ΘΚΠ

the world > food and drink > drink > manufacture of alcoholic drink > wine-making > [verb (transitive)] > store wine or stock cellar

maintain1480

belay1562

wine1647

to lay down1839

bin1841

1480 Table Prouffytable Lernynge (Caxton) (1964) 6 Who wyne wyll mayntene behoueth to haue selers And a lowe chambre.

†15. transitive. To stand for, represent. Obsolete. rare.

ΘΚΠ

society > communication > representation > [verb (transitive)] > of the representation

representc1450

describea1536

adumbrate1537

fashion1590

to figure for1596

depaint1598

maintain1598

depicture1650

depict1871

1598 W. Shakespeare Love's Labour's Lost v. ii. 878 This side is Hiems, Winter. This Ver, the Spring: The one maynteined by the Owle, th'other by the Cuckow.

III. Other uses.

16. transitive. To hold (an object) up or upright. rare.

ΚΠ

a1425 Medulla Gram. (Stonyhurst) f. 23 Effulcio, perfitly menteyne or vnderputte.

1661 S. Morgan Sphere of Gentry iii. vi. 61 Vert, a Flower-pot Argent maintaining Gilliflowers Gules.

1965 M. Frayn Tin Men xxv. 136 A horizontal rectilinear plane surface maintained by four vertical columnar supports, which we call legs.

This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2000; most recently modified version published online March 2022).

单词	maintain
释义	† maintainn. Forms: Middle English–1500s maynten, late Middle English mayntene, late Middle English maynteygne, late Middle English maynteyn, late Middle English maynteyne, late Middle English mayntiene, late Middle English mayntyen, late Middle English mayntyene, 1500s maintaine, 1500s maintene, 1500s mamtam (transmission error). Origin: Of multiple origins. Partly formed within English, by conversion. Partly a borrowing from French. Etymons: maintain v.; French maintien. Etymology: Partly < maintain v., and partly < Middle French maintien (late 13th cent. in Old French in sense 1, 1538 in sense 2) < maintenir (see maintain v.). Obsolete. 1. Bearing, deportment, behaviour. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > behaviour > [noun] > demeanour or bearing i-bereOE i-letelOE lundc1175 semblanta1240 countenancec1290 fare1297 porturec1300 bearinga1325 portc1330 abearc1350 demeaning14.. habit1413 apporta1423 havingsa1425 maintenance?c1436 demeanc1450 maintain?1473 deport1474 maintaining1477 demeanance1486 affair1487 containing1487 behaviour1490 representation1490 haviour?1504 demeanour1509 miena1522 function1578 amenance1590 comportance1590 portance1590 purport1590 manage1593 style1596 dispose1601 deportments1603 comportment1605 garb1605 aira1616 deportment1638 comport1660 tour1702 sway1753 disport1761 maintien1814 tenue1828 portment1833 allure1841 ?1473 W. Caxton tr. R. Le Fèvre Recuyell Hist. Troye (1894) I. lf. 61^v He had not the maynteygne of a yoman or of a seruaunt. ?1473 W. Caxton tr. R. Le Fèvre Recuyell Hist. Troye (1894) I. lf. 64^v [She] began to wexe reed and to lese her mayntyene and contenance whan she sawe hym. 1481 W. Caxton tr. Myrrour of Worlde iii. x. 153 Atte longe, Nature may not suffre dyuerse mayntenes vnresonable. 1485 Malory's Morte Darthur (Caxton) v. ii. sig. i.i He..holdeth the most noble courte of the world alle other kynges ne prynces maye not compare vnto his noble mayntene. c1500 Melusine (1895) 202 The king recomforted his peuple by his wo[r]þy contenaunce & valyaunt maynten. 1578 T. Proctor Gorgious Gallery N iv Joy were to here their prety wordes, and sweet mamtam [perh. read maintain] to see, And how all day they passe the time, til darknes dimmes the skye. 2. Maintenance, support. ΘΚΠ society > trade and finance > payment > [noun] > bearing of expenses or charges > of maintenance or upkeep maintaininga1387 maintenance1389 supportation1421 pension1431 maintain1483 the world > action or operation > safety > protection or defence > preservation from injury or destruction > [noun] > preservation in being or maintenance > preserving in proper condition keepingc1330 upholdinga1350 maintaininga1387 maintenance1389 reparation1389 uphold1471 maintain1483 repair1524 keep1763 upkeep1884 upkeeping1899 preventive maintenance1937 the world > time > change > absence of change, changelessness > maintaining state or condition > [noun] maintenancec1390 sustentation1425 keepingc1430 conservationc1447 sustenation1496 maintainment?c1500 intertenure1537 containing1567 sustainment1568 maintain1599 manutention1603 manutenency?1630 continuance1691 conservancy1884 1483 in T. Rymer Fœdera (1711) XII. 174/1 To the upholde, maynteyne and encrease of their both Estatis against alle Persones. 1599 H. Porter Pleasant Hist. Two Angrie Women of Abington sig. B4^v The mettell of our minds, Hauing the temper of true reason in them, Affoorde a better edge of argument..For the maintaine of our familiar loues, Then the soft leaden wit of women can. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2000; most recently modified version published online December 2021). maintainv. Brit. /meɪnˈteɪn/, /mənˈteɪn/, U.S. /meɪnˈteɪn/ Forms: Middle English maintiene, Middle English maygten (probably transmission error), Middle English maynet (probably transmission error), Middle English maynetene, Middle English mayntan, Middle English maynteene, Middle English maynteigne, Middle English mayntente (probably transmission error), Middle English maynteygne, Middle English maynton, Middle English mayntyme (probably transmission error), Middle English mayntyn, Middle English mayntyne, Middle English mayteyn (probably transmission error), Middle English meignten, Middle English meigntene, Middle English meigten (probably transmission error), Middle English meintiene, Middle English menteene, Middle English mentene, Middle English meynetene, Middle English meyneteyne, Middle English meynteene, Middle English meynten, Middle English meyntyme (probably transmission error), Middle English meyntyn, Middle English meyten (probably transmission error), Middle English meyteyn (probably transmission error), Middle English myntayne (probably transmission error), Middle English mynten (probably transmission error), Middle English–1500s mainteigne, Middle English–1500s mainten, Middle English–1500s maintene, Middle English–1500s mantene, Middle English–1500s manteyn, Middle English–1500s manteyne, Middle English–1500s maynten, Middle English–1500s mayntene, Middle English–1500s meintein, Middle English–1500s meinteine, Middle English–1500s meintene, Middle English–1500s meinteyn, Middle English–1500s meinteyne, Middle English–1500s mentayne, Middle English–1500s menteine, Middle English–1500s menteyn, Middle English–1500s menteyne, Middle English–1500s meyntein, Middle English–1500s meynteine, Middle English–1500s meyntene, Middle English–1500s meynteyn, Middle English–1500s meynteyne, Middle English–1600s maintaine, Middle English–1600s maintayn, Middle English–1600s maintayne, Middle English–1600s maintein, Middle English–1600s mainteine, Middle English–1600s mainteyn, Middle English–1600s mainteyne, Middle English–1600s mantein, Middle English–1600s manteine, Middle English–1600s mayntaine, Middle English–1600s mayntayn, Middle English–1600s mayntayne, Middle English–1600s mayntein, Middle English–1600s maynteine, Middle English–1600s maynteyn, Middle English–1600s maynteyne, 1500s mainetayne, 1500s maineteyne, 1500s mantayne, 1500s manteigne, 1500s maytene, 1500s– maintain, 1600s mayntine; Scottish pre-1700 manetene, pre-1700 manntein, pre-1700 mantain, pre-1700 mantane, pre-1700 mantayn, pre-1700 mantayne, pre-1700 manteain, pre-1700 manteame, pre-1700 manteane, pre-1700 mantein, pre-1700 manteine, pre-1700 mantem, pre-1700 manteme, pre-1700 mantene, pre-1700 mantenne, pre-1700 manteym, pre-1700 manteyme, pre-1700 manteyn, pre-1700 manteyng, pre-1700 mantheym, pre-1700 mantine, pre-1700 mayneteym, pre-1700 maynteigne, pre-1700 maynteme, pre-1700 maynteym, pre-1700 maynteyme, pre-1700 meantayne, pre-1700 meintein, pre-1700 meinteine, pre-1700 meintene, pre-1700 mentaine, pre-1700 mentane, pre-1700 mentean, pre-1700 mentein, pre-1700 menteme, pre-1700 menten, pre-1700 meynteyn, pre-1700 1700s mentain, pre-1700 1700s– maintain, pre-1700 1700s– maintean, 1700s– mantaine, 1700s– manteen, 1700s– mantin, 1800s– mainteen, 1800s– maintein, 1800s– menteen, 1800s– minteen. Origin: A borrowing from French. Etymon: French maintenir. Etymology: < Anglo-Norman maintenir, meintenir, maynteigner to uphold, protect, further, discipline, compel, and Old French, Middle French maintenir to protect (c1135), to conserve in the same state (1160), to believe (a1176), (reflexive) to remain in a specified condition (1200), to affirm (1309), to keep a stock of < post-classical Latin manutenere to support, back up (10th cent.), to support, maintain, govern, possess (12th cent.; from c1115 in British sources) < classical Latin manū , ablative singular of manus hand (see manus n.¹) + tenēre hold (see tenant n.); compare classical Latin manū tenēre to have tangible evidence of something. Compare Old Occitan mantener, Spanish mantener, Portuguese manter, Italian mantenere; also Middle Dutch mainteneren ( < Middle French).The English forms probably partly reflect stem variation in Old French, where stress on the stem in parts of the paradigm gives e.g. 3rd singular present indicative -tient , 3rd singular present subjunctive -tiegne , -teigne (although with much mixture of forms through analogy; Middle English forms suggesting pronunciations with close ē and with ī probably reflect respectively Anglo-Norman and northern Old French developments of -ie- ). Compare detain v., retain v., sustain v. I. To support, assist, and related uses. †1. a. transitive. To uphold, back up, stand by, support the cause of (a person, a party, etc.); to defend, protect, assist; to support or uphold in an action. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > safety > protection or defence > preservation from injury or destruction > preserve from injury or destruction [verb (transitive)] > preserve in existence or maintain at-holdc1220 to hold upc1290 maintaina1325 sustainc1390 sustent?a1425 preserve1427 sustentate1542 a1325 Statutes of Realm (2011) v. 15 Ant that no iustises clerk, ne schirreues clerk, ne maintene parties of plaintes, ne of nuedes, þat beth in þe kinges curt, ne no fraude ne do for te delaien commune riȝt ant destorben. c1330 (?c1300) Bevis of Hampton (Auch.) 4123 ‘Redeþ me..ariȝt Ȝif ich mai vnder-stonde þis fiȝt Aȝen Beues of Hamtoun.’..‘We redeþ meintene ȝour parti.’ a1375 (c1350) William of Palerne (1867) 2698 Sche..preyed..to þe prince of heuene,..to mayntene hire & help. a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) 7374 (MED) His sede and his barntem Ouer al men i sal maintein. ?a1400 (a1338) R. Mannyng Chron. (Petyt) (1996) i. 15873 Cadwaldre bad Iuor..wend & wonne in Bretayn & maynten eft þo þat were of Bretayns left. a1425 (a1400) Prick of Conscience (Galba & Harl.) (1863) 1108 (MED) He sal þe tane of þam mayntene And þe tother despyse [Matt. 6:24]. a1470 T. Malory Morte Darthur (Winch. Coll. 13) (1990) II. 926 To maynteyne his nevew ayenste the myghty erle. a1500 (a1460) Towneley Plays (1897–1973) 309 To mayntene vs euermore ye aw. 1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 438/2 I assyste, or stande by, or mayntayne a person in doynge of a dede. a1556 N. Udall Ralph Roister Doister (?1566) v. v. sig. H.iiij We must to make vs mirth, maintaine hym all we can. 1576 A. Fleming tr. C. Hegendorphinus in Panoplie Epist. 383 One frend to take another frendes part, to defend and maintaine him against backbiting. a1604 M. Hanmer Chron. Ireland 31 in J. Ware Two Hist. Ireland (1633) His three sonnes..formerly went into Ireland to maintaine one of the factions. a1616 W. Shakespeare Henry VI, Pt. 2 (1623) i. i. 159 Iesu maintaine your Royall Excellence. View more context for this quotation 1625 F. Bacon Ess. (new ed.) 154 He..would often maintaine Plantianus, in doing Affronts to his Son. 1673 Haddington Burgh Rec. 22 Feb. in Dict. Older Sc. Tongue (at cited word) To assist manteain and defend the said Mr William in correcting the insolence of the scholars. 1883 S. R. Gardiner Hist. Eng. II. xix. 328 In spite of all, James was still ready to maintain Somerset against his ill-willers in public, if he expostulated with him in private. b. transitive. With infinitive: to assist, encourage, incite (a person) to do something, esp. something evil; to support or uphold (a person) in doing it. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > easiness > aid, help, or assistance > support > support or encouragement > support or encourage [verb (transitive)] > chiefly in something bad comfort1362 maintainc1390 abet1442 bolster1523 c1390 (a1376) W. Langland Piers Plowman (Vernon) (1867) A. iii. 145 Prouendreres, persuns, preostes heo meynteneth, To holde lemmons and lotebyes al heor lyf-dayes. c1390 (a1376) W. Langland Piers Plowman (Vernon) (1867) A. iv. 42 He meynteneth his men to morthere myn owne. c1400 (?a1387) W. Langland Piers Plowman (Huntington HM 137) (1873) C. xviii. 234 Þe pope..That wiþ moneye menteyneþ men to werren vp-on cristine. 1546 in State Papers Henry VIII (1834) III. 577 The Justices nephew maynteyned the burgesses of the Newcastell, to take from me a parcell of pasture. 1626 Scogin's Jests in W. C. Hazlitt Shaks. Jest-bks. (1864) 124 When the king's servants had espied him, they did maintaine their dogges to runne at Scogin. c. transitive. To give support to (a person doing wrong); to aid or abet in wrongdoing; to back up in error or wickedness. Obsolete. ΚΠ c1390 (a1376) W. Langland Piers Plowman (Vernon) (1867) A. iii. 232 To Meyntene Misdoers Meede þei taken. c1400 (c1378) W. Langland Piers Plowman (Laud 581) (1869) B. iii. 90 (MED) Syluer to take..Ringes or other ricchesse þe regrateres to maynetene. ?a1425 Mandeville's Trav. (Egerton) (1889) 209 For to mayntene þam in þaire mawmetry and þaire errour. ?a1425 in D. Knoop & G. P. Jones Mediæval Mason (1933) 265 For no mon No fals mantenans he take hym apon Ny maynteine hys felows yn here synne. ?c1430 (?1383) J. Wyclif Sel. Eng. Wks. (1871) III. 323 Officeris þat meyntenen oþere men in synne. c1475 (c1399) Mum & Sothsegger (Cambr. Ll.4.14) (1936) iii. 311 Thus is the lawe louyd þoru myȝhty lordis willys, Þhat meyneteyne myssdoers more þan oþer peple. 1528 in State Papers Henry VIII (1836) IV. 514 Also I can not perceyve that any redresse can be maid uppon the Borders, for the Kyng of Scottes doth maynteyn all the theves and rebelles of the same. 1562 Certayn Serm. preached in Lincs. in H. Latimer 27 Serm. ^ii. f. 81 O crafty deuil: he went away, not for feare of the holy water, but because he would mayntaine men in errour and foolishnes. 1567 in Facsimiles National MSS Scotl. (1871) III. lv Rather she apperit to fortefie and mantene the said Erll Boithuile..in the saidis wickit crymes. d. transitive. Law. To give support to (a party) in an action in which one has no legally recognized interest. Cf. sense 6b; also maintenance n. 1. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ society > law > rule of law > lawlessness > specific offences > [verb (transitive)] > give support to litigant illegally maintain1716 1716 W. Hawkins Pleas Crown i. 249 Of this second kind of Maintenance there seem to be three Species:..2. Where one maintains one Side, to have Part of the Thing in Suit, which is called Champerty. 1716 W. Hawkins Pleas Crown i. 252 A Man may lawfully maintain those who are infeoffed of Lands in Trust for him in any Action concerning those Lands. 1836 P. Bingham New Cases Court Common Pleas 2 650 The Defendant..has voluntarily and officiously undertaken to maintain the Plaintiff in a suit with which the Defendant has no connection. 1886 Law Rep.: Queen's Bench Div. 17 504 The present action was brought by the plaintiff against the defendant to recover the 118l., on the ground that he had ‘maintained’ Nailer in the former action. 2. transitive. To give one's support to, defend, uphold, promote (a cause, something established, one's side or interest, etc.). ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > easiness > aid, help, or assistance > support > [verb (transitive)] lasteOE i-hentc1225 uphold?c1225 upbeara1300 sustainc1300 understand13.. uplift1338 maintainc1350 supporta1393 underset1395 buttressc1400 supprise1447 bolster1508 stay1526 stay1526 undershore?a1534 underpropa1535 to hold up by the chin1546 back1548 suborn1548 suffult?c1550 upshore?1567 shoulder1577 upstay1600 underwrite1609 abone1622 crutch1641 float1823 backstop1956 c1350 Apocalypse St. John: A Version (Harl. 874) (1961) 92 (MED) [The devil] sett coueitise to meigntene [v.r. maynten] leccherie. ?a1400 (a1338) R. Mannyng Chron. (Petyt) (1996) i. 6427 Þe Frankis..ros agayn Conan to fight; bot Conan mayntend wele his right. ?c1430 (?1383) J. Wyclif Sel. Eng. Wks. (1871) III. 322 Alle þat taken and meyntenen false causes ben cursed grevously... Also lordis holdynge grete lovedaies, and bi here lordischip meyntenenge þe fals pert, for money frendischip or favour, fallen opynly in þis curs, and so don men of lawe, wiþ alle false witnesses þat meyntenen falsenesse aȝenst treuþe, wityngly or unwittyngly. a1450 York Plays (1885) 396 Þat we mayntayne and stand þerby Þat werke all-way. a1450 York Plays (1885) 397 Ȝis, sir, þat dede schall we mayntayne. 1482 Surtees Misc. (1888) 40 Every trew Cristen man..is bunden forto supporte and maynteyn y^e trewth. 1487 (a1380) J. Barbour Bruce (St. John's Cambr.) x. 289 He hyet honor and largess, And ay mantemyt richtwisnes. c1500 (?a1475) Assembly of Gods (1896) 747 (MED) Vertew dyd hys besy peyn Pepyll to reyse hys quarell to menteyn. a1522 G. Douglas tr. Virgil Æneid (1960) xi. xii. 114 By hurtis feill for to manteym thar rycht. 1535 Bible (Coverdale) Psalms ix. 4 For thou hast manteyned my right and my cause. 1558 J. Knox First Blast against Monstruous Regiment Women f. 7 Suche as oght to mainteine the truth and veritie of God. 1560 J. Daus tr. J. Sleidane Commentaries f. cxxij The true and holsome doctrine is..euery where oppressed,..and open crymes mainteined. 1638 R. Baker tr. J. L. G. de Balzac New Epist. II. 16 The cause I maintaine is the cause of my Prince and Country. 1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost vi. 30 Who single hast maintaind Against revolted multitudes the Cause Of Truth. View more context for this quotation 1678 S. Butler Hudibras: Third Pt. iii. iii. 228 H' had..us'd two equal ways of gaining, By hindring justice, or maintaining. 1698 N. Tate & N. Brady New Version Psalms of David (new ed.) 80 Possest of absolute Command, Thou Truth and Mercy dost maintain. 1792 E. Burke Let. to H. Langrishe in Wks. (1842) I. 548 First, the king swears he will maintain, to the utmost of his power, ‘the laws of God’. 1844 J. Ruskin Mod. Painters (ed. 2) I. Pref. p. xviii He..who would maintain the cause of contemporary excellence against that of elder time. 1873 A. Trollope Eustace Diamonds II. xxviii. 11 Lady Eustace is determined to maintain her right to the property. 1939 War Illustr. 4 Nov. 283/3 Far-flying squadrons over home waters and foreign seas had splendidly maintained our cause. 3. a. transitive. To support or uphold in speech or argument; to defend (an opinion, statement, tenet, etc.); to assert the truth or validity of. ΘΚΠ the mind > language > statement > maintaining or upholding as true > maintain or uphold as true [verb (transitive)] haveOE werea1300 maintainc1350 confirmc1380 sustainc1430 defendc1475 to hold in hand1530 uphold1530 soothea1556 dispute1610 sticklea1661 to hold out1847 claim1864 the mind > attention and judgement > testing > debate, disputation, argument > putting forward for discussion > put forward [verb (transitive)] > support or defend maintainc1350 to draw one's pen (also quill)1759 c1350 Apocalypse St. John: A Version (Harl. 874) (1961) 110 (MED) Þe holy Men & wymmen..stedfastlich helden þe bileue of þe resureccioun..& meigntened it aȝein þe tirauntz in þis werlde. a1425 (a1400) Prick of Conscience (Galba & Harl.) (1863) 3080 Yhit has men herd som clerkes maynte [ne] Swilk an opinion, als I wene, Þat a saule [etc.]. ?c1430 (?1383) J. Wyclif Sel. Eng. Wks. (1871) III. 323 Clerkis þat don evyl and meyntene it bi sotilte of word. c1449 R. Pecock Repressor (1860) 5 (MED) The othere vntrewe opiniouns..muste..lacke it wherbi thei miȝten in eny colour..be mentened, holde, and supportid. ?c1450 Pistel of Swete Susan (Pierpont Morgan) 220 (MED) Þies wordes þat we say On þis womman verray Þat wil we mayntan for aye. c1480 (a1400) St. Katherine 390 in W. M. Metcalfe Legends Saints Sc. Dial. (1896) II. 453 Quhy suld þu..A madine thole..þis lang Manteyng a-gane our godis wra[n]g. 1512 Act 4 Hen. VIII c. 19 Preamble The seid Frensche Kyng..alway erronyously defendyng & maynteynyng his seid obstynate opynyons agayne the unitye of the holye Churche. 1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 617/1 And he ones saye a thyng, he wyll mayntayne it to dye for it. 1573 in J. Cranstoun Satirical Poems Reformation (1891) I. xlii. 92 The veritie we may mantine. c1616 R. C. Times' Whistle (1871) v. 2120 What phisitian..would..such a lye maintaine? 1651 T. Hobbes Leviathan ii. xxx. 180 The doctrines maintained by so many Preachers. 1686 A. Horneck Crucified Jesus xi. 205 This point they do so stiffly, and so uncharitably maintain. 1725 D. Cotes tr. L. E. Du Pin New Eccl. Hist. 17th Cent. I. vi. ii. 228 He was confident in his Sentiments, and maintain'd them obstinately and opinionatively. 1790 Coll. Voy. round World V. ix. 1649 They also, in some degree, maintain our old doctrine of planetary influence. 1825 Q. Rev. 33 158 These opinions were maintained by Roman Catholics in England within the last ten years. 1856 R. Whately Bacon's Ess. i. 10 It is not enough to believe what you maintain; you must maintain what you believe, and maintain it because you believe it. 1909 R. Law Tests of Life v. 69 This the writer maintains with unexampled strenuousness and rigour. 1957 G. Ryle in M. Black Importance of Lang. (1962) 166 All three maintained the doctrine of a third realm of non~physical, nonpsychological entities. 1990 J. Masson Final Analysis v. 107 They salved their consciences by rigidly maintaining the doctrine that external reality counted for little. b. transitive. With clause: to affirm, assert, or contend (that). With object and infinitive (now somewhat archaic): to assert (something) to be (etc.); †also in passive. ΘΚΠ the mind > language > statement > assertion or affirmation > [verb (transitive)] vowc1330 anferme1340 affirma1382 willa1382 threapc1386 avow1393 to make oneself strongc1425 maintain?c1430 protest1440 traverse1491 assure1509 ferma1525 verc1540 profess1542 enforce1579 justify1579 aver1582 to take on1583 asserta1604 will1614 assevera1618 positive1656 autume1661 declare1709 obtesta1722 predicate1782 asseveratea1847 ?c1430 (c1383) J. Wyclif Eng. Wks. (1880) 10 (MED) Þei seyn and meyntenen in scole..þat þe wordis of holy writt ben false. 1494 Loutfut MS f. 1, in Dict. Older Sc. Tongue at Maintene That ilkan of the saidis parteis wald say and manteine till haff be thar office..to be nerraste before the Kingis persoun. c1550 Complaynt Scotl. (1979) xi. 82 The..scottis men that duellis in the vest or in the northt of ingland, thai men suere and menteme that thai var borne in the..the southt partis of ingland. 1593 R. Hooker Of Lawes Eccl. Politie iii. viii. 146 Because we maintaine that in scripture we are taught all things necessary vnto saluation. 1608 W. Shakespeare King Lear ii. 72 I haue often heard him maintaine it to be fit, that [etc.] . View more context for this quotation 1646 Sir T. Browne Pseudodoxia Epidemica iii. xxiv. 169 Some [animals] there are in the Land which were never maintained to be in the Sea, as Panthers, Hyæna's [etc.] . View more context for this quotation 1652 M. Nedham tr. J. Selden Of Dominion of Sea 203 It is mainteined by divers learned Men that these were the ruins of the same Tower. 1682 J. Dryden Medall 6 He..Maintains the Multitude can never err. 1729 Bp. J. Butler Serm. in Wks. (1874) II. Pref. 24 The Epicureans..maintained that absence of pain was the highest happiness. 1763 Dict. Arts & Sci. I. 238/2 The Latin Church..maintain, that the bread in the mass ought to be azymous. 1849 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. I. ii. 195 The country, he maintained, would never be well governed till [etc.]. 1875 B. Jowett tr. Plato Dialogues (ed. 2) V. 222 Pleasure and pain I maintain to be the first perceptions of children. 1919 P. G. Wodehouse Damsel in Distress xvii. 199 ‘No answer, m'lady. Those was his very words,’ stoutly maintained the black-souled boy. 1964 G. Vidal Julian ii. 17 Constantius maintained that there was a plot against his life. 1985 J. Berman Talking Cure i. 9 Freud..took offense when Havelock Ellis maintained he was not a scientist but an artist. 4. transitive. To hold, keep, defend (a place, position, or possession) against hostility or attack, actual or threatened. to maintain one's ground (often figurative). Also reflexive: to make a stand, defend one's position; similarly †to maintain one's own. ΘΚΠ society > armed hostility > defence > holding out or making stand > hold out or make stand [verb (intransitive)] standOE hold1154 to maintain one's owna1375 to hold or keep (one's) stalec1450 subsist1588 to hold out1769 society > armed hostility > defence > holding out or making stand > hold [verb (transitive)] > hold (a position, etc.) hold1154 werec1330 maintaina1375 the mind > will > decision > constancy or steadfastness > be constant or steadfast [verb (intransitive)] standeOE cleavec1275 to stand stiffa1290 stick1447 to stand or stick to one's tackling1529 to stand in this1538 to set down (the or one's) staff1584 to stand one's ground1600 to stand to one's pan pudding1647 to maintain one's ground1736 to nail one's colours (also flag) to the mast (also masthead)1808 to stay put1843 to stand firm1856 to sit tight1890 to keep the flag flying1914 to dig in one's toes1933 to hold the line1956 a1375 (c1350) William of Palerne (1867) 3642 (MED) His men miȝt nouȝt meyntene here owne. a1400 Siege Jerusalem (Laud) (1932) 927 (MED) Othis..Þat four monþes & mor hadde mayntened þe croune. c1450 (?a1400) Wars Alexander (Ashm.) 1972 (MED) Miȝt þou þe marches of Messedoyne mayntene þi-selfe. a1522 G. Douglas tr. Virgil Æneid (1957) iv. v. 81 And now that secund Paris,..By reif mantemys hir suld ouris be. 1595 S. Daniel First Fowre Bks. Ciuile Warres iv. xlvi. sig. V3^v Bedford who our onely hold maintaind. 1615 G. Sandys Relation of Journey 217 A fort maintained by a small garrison of Moores. a1616 W. Shakespeare Henry V (1623) iii. vi. 92 Flu. The Duke of Exeter ha's very gallantly maintain'd the Pridge. View more context for this quotation a1616 W. Shakespeare King John (1623) iii. iv. 136 A Scepter snatch'd with an vnruly hand, Must be as boysterously maintain'd as gain'd. View more context for this quotation a1625 J. Fletcher Rule a Wife (1640) iii. 37 I stand upon the ground of mine own honour And will maintaine it. 1660 F. Brooke tr. V. Le Blanc World Surveyed 15 There are four avenues cut through the Mountain, easie to be maintained. 1736 Bp. J. Butler Analogy of Relig. i. iii. 59 In this Case then, brute Force might more than maintain its Ground against Reason. a1771 T. Gray Ess. I in W. Mason Mem. Life & Writings (1775) 199 An Iron-race the mountain-cliffs maintain. 1792 J. Almon Anecd. Life W. Pitt (octavo ed.) I. xviii. 283 The King of Prussia, though surrounded by his numerous enemies, maintained himself with astonishing skill and valour. 1849 G. P. R. James Woodman I. iv. 77 She maintained her ground, although the Moor rode close up to her with his companions. 1854 J. H. Newman Lect. Hist. Turks iv. i. 218 Venice..by a system of jealous and odious tyranny,..continued to maintain its ground. 1893 Sir L. Griffin in 19th Cent. Nov. 684 Our subsidies and open support have enabled Abdur Rahman Khan to maintain himself against his many enemies. 1956 W. S. Churchill Hist. Eng.-speaking Peoples II. iv. i. 6 The Church in Rome..proved able to maintain itself through a long series of religious wars. 5. Thesaurus » Categories » a. transitive. To support (one's state in life) by expenditure, etc. b. transitive. To sustain (life) by nourishment. ΘΚΠ the world > food and drink > food > providing or receiving food > feed or nourish [verb (transitive)] > maintain life with food nourishc1300 contain1579 maintain1584 rack1659 the world > food and drink > food > consumption of food or drink > eating > eat [verb (transitive)] > maintain life with food to fare witha1340 contain1579 maintain1584 c1385 G. Chaucer Knight's Tale 1441 Theseus..gaf him gold to mayntene his degree. 1487 (a1380) J. Barbour Bruce (St. John's Cambr.) x. 779 The king..to manteyn his stat him gaff Rentis and landis. 1495 Act 11 Hen. VII c. 39 He hath not yerely revenues to maynteyn honorably and convenyently the astate of a Duke. 1584 T. Cogan Hauen of Health iii. 21 Nature hath taught all liuing creatures to seeke by sustenaunce to maintaine their liues. 1606 No-body & Some-body sig. B4 Nobody takes them in, prouides them harbor, Maintaines their ruind fortunes at his charge. a1616 W. Shakespeare Henry VI, Pt. 2 (1623) iv. ix. 22 Sufficeth, that I haue maintaines my state. View more context for this quotation 1637 W. Alexander Doomes-day (new ed.) viii. xii. 168 in Recreations with Muses Whil'st old (and poore perchance) with toyle and strife, Glad (by his labour) to maintaine his life. 1647 C. Cotterell & W. Aylesbury tr. E. C. Davila Hist. Civill Warres France i. 21 Finding the narrownesse of his fortune could not maintain the greatnesse of his birth. 1856 J. A. Froude Hist. Eng. (1858) I. i. 52 The first condition of a worthy life was the ability to maintain it in independence. 1856 B. Brodie Psychol. Inq. (ed. 3) I. v. 187 Food is required because life cannot be maintained without it. 1887 Encycl. Brit. XXII. 409 The so-called ‘famine-bread’..which has maintained the life of so many arctic travellers. a1911 D. G. Phillips Susan Lenox (1917) II. i. 14 She was now reduced to an income below what life can be decently maintained upon. 1991 J. Gavin Intimate Nights x. 315 The rewards were unheard of for a ‘saloon singer’, as Short called himself: a huge midtown apartment, a personal secretary..and a life-style that cost more and more to maintain. †c. transitive. To bear the expense of, afford. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ society > trade and finance > payment > pay money or things [verb (transitive)] > bear or defray the cost of quitc1275 maintaina1425 pay1446 fray1450 abye1503 price?a1513 be1520 to stand to ——1540 disburse1548 defray1581 discharge1587 reimburse1591 discount1647 to be at the charge(s of1655 to pay off1711 stand1808 pop1947 a1425 (?a1400) G. Chaucer Romaunt Rose (Hunterian) 1144 Richesse myght..hir dispence well mayntene. 1605 London Prodigall i. i But honesty maintains not a French hood, Goes very seldom in a chain of gold. a1616 W. Shakespeare Taming of Shrew (1623) v. i. 69 What cernes it you, if I weare Pearle and gold: I thank my good Father, I am able to maintaine it. View more context for this quotation 6. a. transitive. To pay for the upkeep of; to keep (a ship, garrison, etc.) supplied or equipped; to keep (a light) burning by supply of fuel; to keep (a road, a building, etc.) in repair; to take action to preserve (a machine, etc.) in working order. ΘΚΠ society > trade and finance > payment > pay money or things [verb (transitive)] > bear or defray the cost of > of maintenance or upkeep sustainc1350 maintain1389 support1431 the world > action or operation > safety > protection or defence > preservation from injury or destruction > preserve from injury or destruction [verb (transitive)] > preserve in proper condition > provide for sustaina1325 maintain1389 1389 in J. T. Smith & L. T. Smith Eng. Gilds (1870) 27 Þis light þey hoten & a-vowed to kepyn & myntenyn. 1389 in J. T. Smith & L. T. Smith Eng. Gilds (1870) 62 To meyteyn wit-al a lythe brennynge in ye chyrche. 1435 Rolls of Parl. IV. 490/1 Ye saide pouere Toune of Caleys, yat by ye continuance of ye saide Staple hath hiderto been gretly maintened and strengthed, like to bee defaited and lost. a1500 in F. B. Bickley Little Red Bk. Bristol (1900) II. 151 (MED) The saide Jorney men..shall kepe, ordeine, and menteine the saide light. 1533–4 Act 25 Hen. VIII c. 8 Euerie person..hauinge anie of the saide landes..shall..sufficiently meintein the pauement of the said waye. a1578 R. Lindsay Hist. & Cron. Scotl. (1899) I. 227 Witht tua schipis weill mantenitt and artaillzeit. 1600 J. Pory tr. J. Leo Africanus Geogr. Hist. Afr. v. 237 Here is an hospitall maintained at the common charges of the towne, to entertaine strangers that passe by. 1611 Bible (King James) 1 Esdras iv. 52 Tenne talents yeerely, to maintaine the burnt offerings vpon the Altar euery day. View more context for this quotation 1617 F. Moryson Itinerary i. 55 The States maintained some men of warre in this Inland Sea. a1687 W. Petty Polit. Arithm. (1692) 77 The annual charge of maintaining the Shipping of England, by new Buildings and Preparations. 1707 J. Chamberlayne Angliæ Notitia (ed. 22) iii. ix. 341 They..maintain Lectures upon the Holy Sacrament of the Lord's Supper, almost every Lord's Day Evening. 1725 D. Defoe New Voy. round World ii. 112 Strong Forts erected..and strong Garrisons maintained in them. 1779 in F. Chase Hist. Dartmouth Coll. (1891) I. 562 To maintain said mills by repairing the present buildings. 1830 J. Baxter Libr. Agric. & Hort. Knowl. 429 Stone, wood, and iron, are the materials principally employed in making and maintaining roads. 1861 M. Pattison in Westm. Rev. Apr. 415 The Germans..maintained in it [sc. a church] an altar. 1891 C. Roberts Adrift in Amer. 37 A school section is a section of land..set apart by the Government for the purpose of raising funds for building and maintaining schools. 1938 J. Charlesworth Law of Negligence vii. 133 Where a refuge was erected in the middle of the street, and inadequately lighted, so that a taxi-cab collided with it in the dark because..owing to war restrictions, no lights were maintained. 1961 E. Roosevelt Autobiogr. iii. xxix. 296 The government had taken over some of the country's historic houses that the owners could no longer afford to maintain. 1984 Which Micro? Dec. 70/2 The software is not easily understandable and difficult to maintain. b. transitive. To provide the means for conducting (a suit or action at law). Cf. sense 1d. ΘΚΠ society > law > administration of justice > court proceedings or procedure > action of courts in claims or grievances > carry on or institute (an action) [verb (transitive)] > furnish means for an action maintain?c1430 ?c1430 [see sense 2]. 1540 Act 32 Hen. VIII c. 9 §3 That no maner of personne..doo herafter unlaufully maineteyne or cause or procure any unlaufull mayntenance in any action. 1769 W. Blackstone Comm. Laws Eng. IV. 134 A man may however maintain the suit of his near kinsman, servant, or poor neighbour, out of charity and compassion, with impunity. 1843 R. Meeson & W. N. Welsby Rep. Cases Exchequer (1844) XI. 676 The defendants resisted and maintained, supported, &c. such defences and resistance. II. To (cause to) continue, keep up, preserve. 7. a. transitive. To keep up, preserve, cause to continue in being (a state of things, a condition, an activity, etc.); to keep vigorous, effective, or unimpaired; to guard from loss or deterioration. ΘΚΠ the mind > possession > retaining > retain or keep [verb (transitive)] > keep, maintain, or preserve holdc1000 i-haldOE keepc1175 withholdc1200 keepa1325 maintaina1375 preservea1393 a1375 (c1350) William of Palerne (1867) 2676 (MED) Meyntenes ȝit ȝoure manchip manli a while. ?a1400 (a1338) R. Mannyng Chron. (Petyt) ii. 60 Eldolf, bisshop of Bath, þe pes mayntend & helde. a1450 York Plays (1885) 137 I rede we reste a thrawe, For to maynteyne our myght. 1487 (a1380) J. Barbour Bruce (St. John's Cambr.) xx. 605 The law sa weill mantemyt he And held in pes swa the cuntre. a1535 T. More Hist. Edward V (1641) 29 He..had holpe to maintaine a long continued grudge. 1581 R. Mulcaster Positions vi. 42 How health is maintained, and disease auoided. 1651 T. Hobbes Leviathan ii. xxx. 175 It is the Office of the Soveraign, to maintain those Rights entire. 1675 H. Neville tr. N. Machiavelli Prince iii, in tr. N. Machiavelli Wks. 200 Maintaining to them their old condition. 1742 D. Hume Ess. (1777) I. i. v. 35 All men are sensible of the necessity of justice to maintain peace and order. 1855 A. Bain Senses & Intellect i. i. 74 Nervous influence is required for maintaining the breathing action. 1855 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. III. xi. 43 All that was necessary for the purpose of maintaining military discipline. 1871 B. Jowett tr. Plato Dialogues I. 26 As he had a reputation to maintain. 1936 G. Greene in Spectator 31 July 199/2 Laburnum Grove maintains the promise of his first picture, Masterman Ready. 1970 N. Chomsky At War with Asia (1971) iii. 100 Prince Sihanouk managed to maintain neutrality by a delicate balancing act. 1987 D. Rowe Beyond Fear ii. 80 Powerful people..establish and maintain their power by creating fear in others. †b. transitive. With concrete object: to preserve in existence. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > safety > protection or defence > preservation from injury or destruction > preserve from injury or destruction [verb (transitive)] > preserve in existence or maintain > specifically a concrete object maintaina1475 a1475 Sidrak & Bokkus (Lansd.) (Ph.D. diss., Univ. of Washington) (1965) 2821 Þe water in-to erthe sinketh, And al þe erthe þe water drinketh For to maintene al þinge Þat waxeþ in þe erthe springinge. a1542 T. Wyatt Coll. Poems (1969) 79 One only hope hath staide my lyff apart, Wych doth perswade such wordes vnto my sory mynd. ‘Mayntene thy sellff, O wofull spryte, some better luk to fynd.’ 1659 J. Pearson Expos. Apostles Creed ii. 310 We are still preserved by his power, and as he made us, so doth he maintain us. 1715 D. Defoe Family Instructor I. i. i. 19 And by the same Power preserves and maintains all things. 8. a. transitive. To carry on, keep up, prosecute (a war, fight, contest, etc.); to sustain (a siege). ΘΚΠ society > armed hostility > [verb (transitive)] > continue hostilities against maintaina1375 a1375 (c1350) William of Palerne (1867) 3002 (MED) Here men..faileden of here mete, þat þei miȝt in no maner meyntene þe sege. ?a1400 (a1338) R. Mannyng Chron. (Petyt) (1996) i. 5375 I salle maynten [a1450 Lamb. vndertake] forþe þis were. a1425 (?a1400) G. Chaucer Romaunt Rose (Hunterian) 3550 I pray you..For to mayntene no lenger heer Such cruel werre agayn youre man. a1475 Sidrak & Bokkus (Lansd.) (Ph.D. diss., Univ. of Washington) (1965) 24 (MED) King Bokkus him biþoght Þat he wolde haue a citee wroght..for to maintene wel his were. 1487 (a1380) J. Barbour Bruce (St. John's Cambr.) x. 184 Quhill at thar rout,..Cum for to maynteme the melle. 1487 (a1380) J. Barbour Bruce (St. John's Cambr.) xiii. 280 Thai that wicht war and hardy,..At gret myschef mantemyt the ficht. 1560 J. Daus tr. J. Sleidane Commentaries f. cxxxvij Than had Charles Duke of Sauoye, a certen space maynteyned warre against the Citie of Geneua. 1665 T. Manley tr. H. Grotius De Rebus Belgicis 277 To..raise a Siege which is so strongly setled and maintained. 1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Georgics iv, in tr. Virgil Wks. 126 Long the doubtful Combat they maintain, Till one prevails (for one can only Reign). View more context for this quotation 1707 London Gaz. No. 4386/2 3 French Privateers..attack'd a Dutch Ship.., who maintain'd a running Fight. 1781 E. Gibbon Decline & Fall III. xxxi. 259 The father maintained a siege within the walls of Arles. 1828 W. Scott Fair Maid of Perth vi, in Chron. Canongate 2nd Ser. III. 151 It is false..I..will maintain the combat with him that shall call it true. 1881 A. Trollope Dr. Wortle's School I. iii. 51 He was about to go away South, into Mexico, with the view of pushing his fortune there with certain desperadoes, who were maintaining a perpetual war against the authorities of the United States. 1933 D. Garnett Pocahontas 51 The enemy did not maintain a regular siege. 1957 W. S. Churchill Hist. Eng.-speaking Peoples III. ix. v. 242 Since the renewal of war Britain had found herself alone against Napoleon, and for two years she maintained the struggle single-handed during one of the most critical periods in her history. 1983 A. Bullock Ernest Bevin iv. 157 The Russian war of nerves against the Turks was maintained throughout 1945. †b. transitive. gen. To go on with, continue, persevere in (an undertaking). Also (occasionally): to go on with the use of (something). Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > continuing > continue (an action) [verb (transitive)] i-haldOE to hold fortha1325 sustainc1325 containc1330 continuea1340 maintainc1385 carrya1393 keepc1425 to keep upa1535 to stick by ——1551 to hold on1568 to hold out1595 to carry on1609 subsist1633 to keep at ——1825 the mind > will > decision > perseverance or persistence > persevere or persist in [verb (transitive)] to stand in ——a1382 maintainc1385 willc1400 to stand fortha1425 to stick to ——1525 to tug out1631 worry1727 to stick out1833 to stick at ——1845 slog1846 stay1956 to chase up1958 c1385 G. Chaucer Knight's Tale 920 A proud despitous man That wol maynteyne that he first bigan. 1489 (a1380) J. Barbour Bruce (Adv.) ii. 189 Frendis, and frendschip purchesand, To maynteym that he had begunnyn. a1500 tr. A. Chartier Traité de l'Esperance (Rawl.) (1974) 15 Many anguisches..stoppe soo moche thi passages that thou art ferde to take any passge vpon the for it is greuouse to be maynteined. 1526 W. Bonde Pylgrimage of Perfection i. sig. Dvii Bycause they shulde waxe feble afterwarde, and so to be nat able to mayntayne their iourney. 1545 R. Ascham Toxophilus To Gentlem. Eng. Some shooters take in hande stronger bowes, than they be able to mayntayne. c. transitive. To carry on (an action at law); to have grounds for sustaining (an action). ΘΚΠ society > law > administration of justice > court proceedings or procedure > action of courts in claims or grievances > carry on or institute (an action) [verb (transitive)] bringc1000 move1379 pursue1384 leada1400 suea1422 raise1436 maintain1456 conceive1467 persecute1483 implead1554 suscitate1560 solicit?a1562 intenda1578 intent1630 society > trade and finance > payment > pay money or things [verb (transitive)] > bear or defray the cost of > of maintenance or upkeep > of a lawsuit maintain1456 1456 in W. Brown Yorks. Deeds (1909) 25 Yf the same John Wodcote mayntene and avowe all sich accions..for to ask, opteyn, and recover the forsaide tenementes. 1463–4 Rolls of Parl. V. 506/2 To have and maynten Action or Actions of Dette. 1512 Act 3 Hen. VIII c. 1 §4 Any maner of accion..to be..mayntened ayenst any of the Kingis Subgiettes. 1620 J. Wilkinson Treat. Statutes conc. Coroners & Sherifes (new ed.) 67 No sherife shall suffer a Barreter to maintaine any actions or quarrels in their countie courts. 1785 T. Jefferson Notes Virginia xvi. 286 By our laws..no alien can hold lands, nor alien enemy maintain an action for money, or other moveable thing. 1818 W. Cruise Digest Laws Eng. Real Prop. (ed. 2) II. 417 This Court granted an injunction against him, though no action whatsoever could be maintained at law. 1892 Law Times Rep. 67 142/1 In order to maintain an action of deceit there must be moral delinquency on the part of the person proceeded against. 1946 Supreme Court Reporter (U.S.) 65 139/2 She may maintain an action in the Superior Court to have a ‘reasonable subsistence’ allotted and paid to her. 1998 Federal Reporter 132 937/2 Applying the three-prong test, we hold that private plaintiffs may maintain an action under discriminatory effect regulations. d. transitive. To keep up (friendly relations, correspondence). ΘΚΠ society > society and the community > social relations > have social communication with [verb (transitive)] > keep up (relations) maintain1622 1622 F. Bacon Hist. Raigne Henry VII 240 When they [sc. ambassadors] were returned, they did commonly maintaine Intelligence with him. 1654 T. Gataker Disc. Apol. 26 I maintained a good correspondence..with the moderater sort on either side. 1718 Free-thinker No. 79. 2 A brotherly Correspondence was maintained with all the Foreign Protestant Churches. 1773 W. Hastings Diary 21 Aug. (1948) 6 The Vizier added that the Abdallee maintained a Correspondence with the Rohellas. 1847 Mem. Union of Secession & Relief Churches 7 To begin and maintain a friendly intercourse with the Synod of Relief. 1867 J. L. Motley Let. 12 Mar. in Corr. (1889) II. vii. 255 You..have actually maintained this one-legged correspondence through all those years. 1928 H. C. Hoover Mem. (1952) II. 213 We have a desire to maintain not only the cordial relations of governments with each other but the relations of good neighbors. 1984 A. N. Wilson Hilaire Belloc ii. xiv. 325 He maintained a constant correspondence with Katharine Asquith. e. transitive. To continue in, preserve, retain (a physical or mental condition, a position, attitude, etc.), in spite of disturbing influences. ΘΚΠ the mind > will > decision > constancy or steadfastness > adhere constantly or steadfastly to [verb (transitive)] to stand in ——a1382 abidea1393 saddena1500 to bide bya1513 to stick to ——?1531 to stout out1568 to make good1606 winter1608 buckle1793 maintain1819 1819 W. Scott Ivanhoe II. iv. 59 They rode side by side for some time, during which Gurth maintained a moody silence. At length he could repress his feelings no longer. 1837 B. Disraeli Venetia I. 110 Lady Annabel for some time maintained complete silence. 1879 R. K. Douglas Confucianism iii. 72 The Sage..maintains a perfect uprightness and pursues the heavenly way without the slightest deflection. 1898 G. W. E. Russell Coll. & Recoll. x. 131 Amidst all this hurly burly Pitt maintained a stately..reserve. 1923 W. Cather Lost Lady ii. v. 137 Even after their misfortunes had begun to come upon them, she had maintained her old reserve. 1940 H. L. Mencken Diary 9 June (1989) 147 Instead of trying, in a day of demagogic buncombe and mass hysteria, to maintain a rational point of view and avoid emotion, he has marched with the procession, and even ahead of it. 1989 HMV Christmas Mag. 13 [Iron] Maiden suffered numerous early personnel changes, but have always maintained a happy-go-lucky attitude to their sword'n'sorcery metal. †9. transitive. To practise habitually (a good, bad, etc., action); to (continue to) observe (a rule, custom). Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > behaviour > customary or habitual mode of behaviour > do habitually [verb (transitive)] usec1300 maintain1384 observec1390 custom1392 practic?a1425 practise?c1430 frequent1485 to have in wonea1500 wont1530 trade1550 to make a practice of1722 1384 in R. W. Chambers & M. Daunt Bk. London Eng. (1931) 24 (MED) Al the ordinances..wer they neuer so badde, sholden haue be meigtened euer more. a1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) iv. 3433 (MED) Tristesce..forto meintiene his folie..hath with him Obstinacie. a1400 (c1303) R. Mannyng Handlyng Synne (Harl.) 6558 Þou manteynest an euyl custum. a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Fairf. 14) 2454 (MED) Þa folk ware fulle of misdede, and maynteined wrang and wikkedhede. a1500 (c1340) R. Rolle Psalter (Univ. Oxf. 64) (1884) xxvii. 5 Tha sall thai be punyst that first fyndes thaim, and all that oyses thaim & mayntens thaim [sc. ill deeds]. c1540 (?a1400) Gest Historiale Destr. Troy 2049 How þai maintene þere malis with manas & pride. 1549 R. Crowley Voyce Laste Trumpet sig. Cviii Thou wylt..maintaine outragiouse play Til thou haue spent both land and fee. 1611 Bible (King James) Titus iii. 14 And let ours also learne to maintaine good workes [Greek καλῶν ἔργων προίστασθαι] for necessarie vses, that they be not vnfruitfull. View more context for this quotation a1650 D. Calderwood Hist. Kirk Scotl. (1843) II. 148 When suche as now onlie mainteaned her masse were exiled. 10. a. transitive. To cause to continue in a specified state, relation, or position, or at a specified level or number; †to secure the continuance of (a possession) to a person (obsolete); †to secure (a person) in continued possession of property (obsolete). ΘΚΠ the world > time > change > absence of change, changelessness > maintaining state or condition > maintain [verb (transitive)] i-haldOE sustainc1300 keepc1315 maintainc1390 conservea1425 continuec1460 entertain1490 persevere1502 uphold?1523 containa1538 petrifya1631 conservate1647 to keep on1669 to keep up1670 preserve1677 support1696 fix1712 ossify1800 fossilize1848 the world > action or operation > easiness > aid, help, or assistance > support > support or encouragement > support or encourage [verb (transitive)] > support or defend to stand by ——OE to speak for ——a1300 to stand for ——1384 maintainc1390 to stand up for1562 to stand out for?c1576 to stand to ——1582 patronize1595 stickle1632 to stick up for1792 championize1840 champion1844 to take up the cudgels1869 c1390 in C. Horstmann Minor Poems Vernon MS (1892) i. 129 (MED) To þi sone vs dresse, And preye hym þat he vs blesse And mayntyme in sonde. a1400 (a1325) Chron. Robert of Gloucester (Trin. Cambr.) (1887) App. XX. 843 Þe amperesse..made him oþ swere To meinteini engelond to hure. ?c1430 (c1383) J. Wyclif Eng. Wks. (1880) 24 (MED) To procure, norische, & meyntene cristen soulis in good gouernaile and holy lif. 1559 in J. Stuart Misc. Spalding Club (1849) IV. 91 [To] menten his kirk in the awin libertye. c1600 W. Fowler tr. N. Machiavelli Prince in Wks. (1936) II. 94 He mantened always these factions..in that same estate quhairin he fand theme. 1642 Sir T. Browne Religio Medici (new ed.) 87 That vertue is her owne reward, is but a cold principle, and not able to maintaine our variable resolutions in a constant and setled way of goodnesse. 1749 J. Cleland Mem. Woman of Pleasure I. 213 Thus we lay, whilst a voluptuous languor possest, and still maintain'd us motionless, and fast lock'd in one another's arms. 1800 A. Addison Rep. Cases Pennsylvania 274 Young contended that M^cCulloch..ought to be maintained in possession of the land. 1874 W. B. Carpenter Princ. Mental Physiol. (1879) i. ii. §68. 71 The limb was maintained in this state of tension for several seconds. 1895 J. M. Falkner Lost Stradivarius vii. 70 A chimney-flue passing through the wall at no great distance had no doubt conducted to maintain the air in the cupboard at an equable temperature. 1917 E. R. Burroughs Princess of Mars x. 96 For ages we have maintained the air and water supply at practically the same point without an appreciable loss. 1939 R. B. Dawson Pract. Lawn Craft xxv. 180 Mowrah meal..does not maintain the turf in worm-free condition for longer than about two years. 1957 I. Asimov Naked Sun ii. 29 The population is deliberately maintained at twenty thousand, that being considered optimum by the Solarians themselves. 1991 Combat & Survival Nov. 30/1 In order to maintain the rate of fire at an acceptable level, the APS also contains a rate-reducer in its mechanism. †b. transitive. Stock Market. To keep (stock) from decline in price. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ society > trade and finance > stocks and shares > deal in stocks and shares [verb (transitive)] > specific operations subscribe1618 to take up1655 to sell out1721 to take in1721 to take up1740 pool?1780 capitalize1797 put1814 feed1818 to vote (the) stock (or shares)1819 corner1836 to sell short1852 promote1853 recapitalize1856 refund1857 float1865 water1865 margin1870 unload1870 acquire1877 maintain1881 syndicate1882 scalp1886 pyramid1888 underwrite1889 oversubscribe1891 joint-stock1894 wash1895 write1908 mark1911 split1927 marry1931 stag1935 unwind1958 short1959 preplace1966 unitize1970 bed and breakfast1974 index-link1974 warehouse1977 daisy-chain1979 strip1981 greenmail1984 pull1986 1881 Daily News 8 July 6/1 American railroads are not quite maintained. 1892 Daily Tel. 5 Sept. 4/6 Consols rose ¹/ ₈ per cent. and English railways were maintained. †11. transitive. To keep in good order, to rule (a people, a country); to preserve in (a state of peace, etc.). Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > safety > protection or defence > preservation from injury or destruction > preserve from injury or destruction [verb (transitive)] > preserve from decay, loss, or destruction > preserve in certain condition maintaina1400 reservec1400 a1400 (?c1300) Lay Folks Mass Bk. (Royal) (1879) 365 Þat þai be wele mayntenande hore states in alle godnesse. 1487 (a1380) J. Barbour Bruce (St. John's Cambr.) xiii. 709 God grant that thai..maynteyme the land, And hald the folk weill to warrand. 1487 (a1380) J. Barbour Bruce (St. John's Cambr.) xvi. 34 Vardanis in [his] absens maid he, For till manteym weill the cuntre. a1500 ( J. Yonge tr. Secreta Secret. (Rawl.) (1898) 142 (MED) For by the good kyngis is wel gouernet the roialme and duly mayntene [read mayntened]. c1515 Ld. Berners tr. Bk. Duke Huon of Burdeux (1882–7) lxvi. 228 I have..maynteyned the countre in peace & rest and good iustyce. 1535 Bible (Coverdale) Ecclus. xxxviii. 32 Without these maye not the cities be manteyned, inhabited ner occupied. 1602 S. Patericke (title) A Discovrse vpon the meanes of wel governing and maintaining in good peace, a Kingdome, or other Principalitie. 1647 in J. Stuart Extracts Council Reg. Aberdeen (1872) II. 84 The toun..cannot gudelie be manteined for lack of money. 12. a. transitive. To provide (oneself, one's family, etc.) with means of subsistence or the necessaries of life; to bear the living, educational, etc., expenses of (a person). Also: †to keep (a person) in clothing (obsolete). ΘΚΠ the mind > possession > supply > provide or supply (something) [verb (transitive)] > provide means of support for findc1225 sustainc1300 found1377 keep1377 maintainc1405 sustent?a1425 support1493 uphold1546 subsist1547 escota1616 fend1637 aliment1660 run1871 grub-stake1879 c1405 (c1390) G. Chaucer Parson's Tale (Hengwrt) 433 Also many a vicious knave mayntened [v.rr. mayntend, Meyntened, mayneted, I-mayntened, ymayntende] by cause of hem. a1425 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Galba) 28961 (MED) Þe more man es of elde, Þe more men aw him forto belde..And mayntene him for sawl mede. 1487 Dietary (St. John's Cambr.) 60 in J. Barbour Bruce (1877) 539 Eftir thi power maynteme ay thi houshald. 1546 Supplic. Poor Commons sig. b.vii Suche possessioners as..vsed to mayntayn theyr owne chylderne, and some of oures, to lernynge. 1582 N. Lichefield tr. F. L. de Castanheda 1st Bk. Hist. Discouerie E. Indias i. ii. 6 These people doe mainteine themselues with rootes of hearbes,..and whale fish. a1617 J. Melville Mem. Own Life (1827) 64 Fyfty thousand crownis to mentean fied wageours. 1676 Lady Chaworth in 12th Rep. Royal Comm. Hist. MSS (1890) App. v. 31 [It] frights Sir Carr Scrope..from marying her, saying his estate will scarce maintaine her in clothes. 1709 Tatler No. 101. ⁋1 150l. per Annum, which would very handsomely maintain me and my little family. 1749 H. Fielding Tom Jones VI. xviii. vii. 217 I believe you bred the young Man up, and maintained him at the University. View more context for this quotation 1770 O. Goldsmith Deserted Village 58 A time there was, ere England's griefs began, When every rood of ground maintained its man. 1816 W. Scott Antiquary II. x. 279 I maun hae a man that can maintain his wife. 1838 G. P. R. James Robber* I. vii. 161 Sufficient, indeed, to maintain me in comfort and independence as a gentleman. 1873 H. Spencer Study Sociol. v. 103 When villeinage had passed away and serfs were no longer maintained by their owners. 1917 S. Leacock Frenzied Fiction vi. 98 Would it prove possible for a man, unaided by our civilised arts and industries, to maintain himself naked..in the heart of the woods? 1946 All Eng. Law Rep. 23 Nov. 577 It is provided that the wife is to support, maintain and educate the child. 1992 Watertown (N.Y.) Daily Times (Sunday ed.) 26 Jan. 10/5 It must reach out to..the oppressed female underclass—nurse's aides, fast-food workers, under-skilled single mothers struggling to maintain families. b. transitive. To provide for the sustenance of (an animal). ΘΚΠ the world > food and drink > food > providing or receiving food > feeding animals > [verb (transitive)] baitc1400 servea1475 foddera1500 refetea1500 maintain1576 provend1581 provender1584 put1620 meal1630 stall-feed1763 feed1818 board1875 1576 A. Fleming tr. J. Caius Of Eng. Dogges 28 And therfore were certain dogges founde and maintained at the common costes and charges of the Citizens of Rome in the place called Capitolium. a1687 W. Petty Polit. Anat. Ireland (1691) 53 An Ox of 6 or 7 years old..will be maintained with two Acres of good Pasture. 1772 Ann. Reg. 1771 104/1 Many peasants were under the necessity of unthatching their houses to maintain their cattle. 1894 Country Gentleman's Catal. 14/2 A few acres of autumn cabbage will maintain and fatten..a large flock of sheep. 1983 L. R. Miller & K. Gilman Horses at Work 133 The balance of the land was in hay, grain and pasture rotation to maintain a small herd of Milking Shorthorn cattle. c. transitive. Medicine. To provide (a patient) with maintenance therapy. Cf. maintenance n. 3c. ΘΚΠ the world > health and disease > healing > medical treatment > treatment by medicine or drug > treat with drugs [verb (transitive)] > maintain maintain1957 1957 Jrnl. Amer. Med. Assoc. 14 Dec. 1970/1 The current discussion..can be reduced to the desirability and feasibility of treating the addict as a total person,..withdrawing drugs.., or of maintaining him on an appropriate amount of drugs if it is determined he cannot be successfully cured of his addiction. 1968 New Eng. Jrnl. Med. 8 Feb. 288/2 The patients..were admitted to the Clinical Center and maintained on a diet essentially free of purines. 1972 Science 26 May 881/1 In April 1971, a program was inaugurated to maintain at least 20,000 addicts on methadone in New York State alone. 1987 D. J. Weatherall et al. Oxf. Textbk. Med. (ed. 2) I. v. 505/2 Patients at unusually high risk for the pneumonitis should be maintained on 5.0 mg trimethoprim and 25 mg sulphamethoxazole per kg per day. †13. a. transitive (reflexive). To bear or conduct oneself in a specified manner. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > behaviour > behave or conduct oneself [verb (reflexive)] wieldOE leadc1175 bear?c1225 steera1250 to take onc1275 contain1297 to shift one's handa1300 demeanc1320 guyc1325 govern1340 keep1362 havec1390 rulec1390 guide14.. conceivea1425 maintain?a1425 maynea1425 behavec1440 disporta1450 orderc1487 use1497 handle?1529 convey1530 gesture1542 treat1568 carry1584 deport1598 bestow1606 comport1616 mienc1680 conduct1706 society > armed hostility > defence > holding out or making stand > hold out [verb (reflexive)] maintain?a1425 ?a1425 (c1400) Mandeville's Trav. (Titus C.xvi) (1919) 103 Thei gon..to help of oþer kynges in here werres..And þei meyntenen hemself right vygouresly. 1481 W. Caxton tr. Siege & Conqueste Jerusalem (1893) lxxvi. (heading) How Tancre mayntenyd hym moche wel in conqueryng contrees. 1489 (a1380) J. Barbour Bruce (Adv.) ii. 486 Bot always, as A man off mayn, He mayntemyt him full manlyly. 1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 617/1 You shall se me mayntayne my selfe so honestly that you shall prayse me. c1650 J. Spalding Memorialls Trubles Scotl. & Eng. (1850) I. 239 The admirall..mantaynde him self couragiouslie in the efter pairt..3 houris long. b. transitive (reflexive). To continue in an action or state; to keep oneself resolutely in a specified state (indicated by adjectival complement). Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > time > change > absence of change, changelessness > maintaining state or condition > maintain oneself [verb (reflexive)] keep1362 maintain1481 1481 W. Caxton tr. Siege & Conqueste Jerusalem (1893) clxxviii. 262 They shold alle goo vnto the mount of Olyuet, And they shold mayntene them this day in fastyng. 1597 F. Bacon Ess. f. 11^v Great men that haue strength in themselues were better to maintaine themselues indifferent and neutrall. 1637 N. Whiting Le Hore di Recreatione 37 She, That can maintaine herselfe, in love can me. †14. transitive. To keep a stock of. Obsolete. rare. ΘΚΠ the world > food and drink > drink > manufacture of alcoholic drink > wine-making > [verb (transitive)] > store wine or stock cellar maintain1480 belay1562 wine1647 to lay down1839 bin1841 1480 Table Prouffytable Lernynge (Caxton) (1964) 6 Who wyne wyll mayntene behoueth to haue selers And a lowe chambre. †15. transitive. To stand for, represent. Obsolete. rare. ΘΚΠ society > communication > representation > [verb (transitive)] > of the representation representc1450 describea1536 adumbrate1537 fashion1590 to figure for1596 depaint1598 maintain1598 depicture1650 depict1871 1598 W. Shakespeare Love's Labour's Lost v. ii. 878 This side is Hiems, Winter. This Ver, the Spring: The one maynteined by the Owle, th'other by the Cuckow. III. Other uses. 16. transitive. To hold (an object) up or upright. rare. ΚΠ a1425 Medulla Gram. (Stonyhurst) f. 23 Effulcio, perfitly menteyne or vnderputte. 1661 S. Morgan Sphere of Gentry iii. vi. 61 Vert, a Flower-pot Argent maintaining Gilliflowers Gules. 1965 M. Frayn Tin Men xxv. 136 A horizontal rectilinear plane surface maintained by four vertical columnar supports, which we call legs. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2000; most recently modified version published online March 2022). < n.?1473v.a1325
随便看	wolf track wolf tree wolf type wolf whelp wolf woman wolf's peach wolf's-claw wolf's-foot wolf's-hide wolf's-thistle wolf's-tooth wolf's-wort wolf'sclaw wolf'sfoot wolf'shide wolf'sthistle wolf'stooth wolf'swort wolf-begotten wolf-belt wolf-berry wolf-breeding wolf-catcher woodvine woodvinegar

† maintainn.

maintainv.