upholdn.
/ˈʌphəʊld/, U.S. /ˈəpˌ(h)oʊld/, Scottish English /ˈʌphold/ Chiefly Scottish and northern dialect.
1. A support or stay.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > easiness > aid, help, or assistance > support > [noun] > that which or one who supports
crutchc900
upholda1066
uptakinga1300
arma1382
postc1387
staff1390
sustainerc1390
undersetterc1400
potent?a1439
buttressa1450
supportalc1450
comfort1455
supporta1456
studa1500
poge1525
underpropper1532
shore1534
staya1542
prop1562
stoopa1572
underprop1579
sustentation1585
rest1590
underpinning1590
supportance1597
sustinent1603
lean1610
reliance1613
hingea1616
columna1620
spar1630
gable end1788
lifeboat1832
standback1915
a1066 in Kemble Cod. Dipl. (1846) IV. 232 Ic eom ðæs mynstres mund and upheald.
c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 9217 Crist godess sune..Hælennde. & hellpe. & god upphald Till þa þatt he shall chesenn.
1559 J. Knox Declar. to Queen Elizabeth 20 July in E. Arber First Blast (1880) App. 58 So is the testimonye of a clean conscience to me a stay and vphold.
1596 J. Dalrymple tr. J. Leslie Hist. Scotl. (1895) II. 45 O cruel creatures, quha dang doune sa strang a stay, piller, and vphald of the Realme!
1791 J. Learmont Poems Pastoral 142 Deckit wi' French flutteration, Stap forth the uphads o' the nation.
1825 J. Jamieson Etymol. Dict. Sc. Lang. Suppl. at Uppal The death o' wives, and the luck o' sheep, are a puir man's uppal.
1894 A. Reid Sangs Heatherland 16 Wha'll cast the end gin aince ye try To pu' oor uphauds doon?
2.
a. The support, sustenance, or maintenance of a person, estate, etc. Also without const.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > possession > supply > [noun] > provision of means of support or livelihood
substancec1384
maintenance1389
sustenance1389
sustentation1389
sustaining1395
findingc1400
uphold1439
retainment1449
exhibition?a1475
entertainment?c1475
upholdingc1480
entertaininga1492
sustenation1496
support1561
alimentation1590
alimony1622
enablement1626
subsisting1698
keep1801
life support1852
palimony1977
α.
β. 1483 in T. Rymer Fœdera (1711) XII. 174/1 To the upholde, maynteyne and encrease of their both Estatis.1582 in Archaeologia (1846) 30 166 Those..placed here for the uphold and maintenance of the peace.1680 in Proc. Soc. Antiquaries Scotl. 45 241 The broad curse of God is on ministers and professors, for your joyning for their uphold.1439 Sc. Acts, Jas. II (1814) II. 54/2 Þe said princesse..has..assignit..to þe uphald of our said soueryn lord and his sistris..iiijm markis.
c1485 ( G. Hay Bk. Gouernaunce of Princis (1993) xxxvi. 118 The gudis ar the vphald of the lyf.
c1500 Cartul. St. Nicholai Aberdon. (New Spalding Club) I. 259 Sextene bredir singaris and abill men to ye vphald of devin service.
a1555 D. Lindsay Tragedie in Dialog Experience & Courteour (1559) sig. Siiiv I wes the cause, of mekle more myschance For vphald of, my glore and dignitie.
1597 Sc. Acts, Jas. VI (1814) IV. 154/2 Oure said souerane Lord..Annexis..to þe same citye..for þe better vphald þerof the foirsaidis liberteis.
a1598 D. Fergusson Sc. Prov. (1641) sig. Ev Pride and sweirnesse wald have meikle uphald.
1808 J. Jamieson Etymol. Dict. Sc. Lang. at Uphald Uphadd, support.
b. The maintaining of a building, etc., in proper repair.
ΘΚΠ
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
1471 in J. D. Marwick Charters Edinb. (1871) 133 For the vphald, reparatioun and bigging of the sammyn [port].
1527 in J. Stuart Extracts Council Reg. Aberdeen (1844) I. 116 The biging of the brig of Dee, and..the gret offeris..be his lordschip, for the vphald of the samyn.
1588 Exchequer Rolls Scot. XXI. 403 Payit yeirlie..for uphald of the brig of Tay.
Categories »
c. northern dialect. Personal maintenance (in respect of food, etc.).
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1926; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
upholdv.
/ʌpˈhəʊld/, U.S. /ˌəpˈhoʊld/ 1. transitive. To support or sustain physically; to keep from falling or sinking.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > relative position > support > [verb (transitive)]
to bear upeOE
underbearc950
bearOE
holdc1000
weighc1200
to hold up1297
upholda1300
sustainc1330
undersetc1330
comforta1382
underbear1382
upbear1390
sustaina1398
upkeepc1412
carrya1425
supporta1425
chargea1500
convey1514
avoke1529
confirm1542
stay1548
to carry up1570
bolster1581
lift1590
upstay1590
atlas1593
sustent1605
statuminatea1628
firm1646
appui1656
establish1664
shoulder1674
to keep up1681
upheave1729
withhold1769
a1300 Cursor Mundi 538 Hijs fete him bers up fra fall, Als þe erth vp haldes all.
1390 J. Gower Confessio Amantis I. 75 He hire in hise armes fast Uphield.
c1400 (?c1390) Sir Gawain & Green Knight (1940) l. 2079 Þe heuen watȝ vp-halt, bot vgly þer-vnder.
c1440 Pallad. on Husb. iv. 82 A lighter vyne is with a lesse Stakyng vpholde.
1483 Cath. Angl. 404/2 To Vpphalde, sustentare, supportare.
?1521 A. Barclay Bk. Codrus & Mynalcas sig. Cvj With marbyll pyllers, the bylding to vpholde About the turrettes, of shape moost exellent.
1590 E. Spenser Faerie Queene i. viii. sig. H3v Whose feeble thighes, vnhable to vphold His pined corse, him scarse to light could beare.
1610 P. Holland tr. W. Camden Brit. i. 697 An Altar..which I saw there, vpholding now the Staires of an house.
1663 S. Patrick Parable of Pilgrim xxxvii The winds that blew, and the rough waves.., were no less subject to that power which upheld him, than [etc.].
1726 G. Leoni tr. L. B. Alberti Architecture I. 52 Coverings..must..be sufficient for upholding themselves, and their burthens.
1763 J. Mills New Syst. Pract. Husbandry IV. 359 Poles were extended between them, and these were up-held by props.
1807 G. Crabbe Parish Reg. iii, in Poems 131 No more his span-girth Shanks..Upheld a Body of the smaller Size.
1849 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. I. 47 The leading strings, which preserve and uphold the infant.
1880 R. Jefferies Round about Great Estate 33 The slender stems uphold the cup-like flowers two or three inches above the surface.
2. absolute.1560 Bible (Geneva) Isa. lxiii. 5 I loked, & there was none to helpe, & I wondered that there was none to vpholde.† b. To carry out, succeed in. Obsolete. rare.
a. To support, sustain, maintain, by aid or assistance; to preserve unimpaired or intact.
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
?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 113 To eke þis hamot ȝet þurch hire forbisne..ȝeoue strencðe oðere & up halden ham þet ha ne fallen iþe dung of sunne.
a1250 Prov. Alfred 171 For nys no w[u]rt..þat euer mvwe þas feye furþ vp-holde [Trin. Coll. MS. þe lif up helde].
c1320 Cast. Love 609 A child þer is i-boren to vs,..Þat schal vp-holden his kynedome.
1389 in J. T. Smith & L. T. Smith Eng. Gilds (1870) 110 The gilde bretherun..that this gilde furst begonne, and lengest sal vp-haldene.
1462–3 Pol. Poems (Rolls) II. 268 Falshode, myschyef, secret synne upholdyng, Whiche hathe caused..endelez langoure.
1488 Act 4 Hen. VII c. 12 §2 The housbondrie..wherby the Chirche of Engleind is upholden.
1542–3 Act 34 & 35 Hen. VIII c. 10 §1 The Citie..hathe been mainteyned and upholden by divers and sundrye handye craftes there used.
1595 W. Shakespeare Henry VI, Pt. 3 iii. iii. 106 Whilst life vpholds this arme, This arme vpholds the house of Lancaster.
1647 N. Bacon Hist. Disc. Govt. 2 Though great Nations may be upholden by power.
1671 J. Milton Samson Agonistes 892 An impious crew Of men conspiring to uphold thir state By worse then hostile deeds. View more context for this quotation
1725 D. Defoe New Voy. round World ii. 172 They had..some Comforts however, which might a little uphold their Spirits.
1781 W. Cowper Retirem. 89 Thine, and upheld by thy paternal care, This universal frame.
1838 C. Thirlwall Hist. Greece (new ed.) IV. xxxv. 377 Rather to take the lead in a revolution, than steadily to uphold the established order of things.
1877 E. A. Freeman Hist. Norman Conquest (ed. 3) II. App. 666 Malcolm continued to be powerfully upheld by English help.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > carrying out > execute, perform, or carry out [verb (transitive)] > achieve or effect
helpc1410
obtain?a1425
procurec1425
practise?a1439
upholdc1450
furnish1477
to bring about1480
to bring to passc1513
conduce1518
contrive1530
to make good1535
moyen1560
effect1581
effectuatea1586
to level out1606
operate1637
to carry offa1640
efficiate1639
work1761
engineer1831
c1450 Cov. Myst. (Shaks. Soc.) 214 He wyl us werke ryght mekyl shame, His fals purpos if he upholde.
c. To maintain at the same level or standard.
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
?1523 J. Fitzherbert Bk. Husbandry f. xxix That he reyre two oxe calues, and two cowe calues..to vpholde his stocke.
1832 T. Chalmers On Polit. Econ. App. 478 Such a high style of husbandry cannot possibly be upholden.
1875 Economist 27 Feb. 260/1 Beans and peas..firmly uphold their value.
1883 Manch. Examiner 26 Nov. 4/2 The demand for yarns..has been very dull, but quotations have nevertheless been upheld.
d. To sustain spiritually.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > courage > encouragement > encourage or embolden [verb (transitive)] > strengthen morally
comfortc1290
enforcec1386
supprise1447
fortify1477
strengthen1534
magnanimate1640
uphold1820
1820 J. J. Gurney in T. W. Reid Life W. E. Forster (1888) I. 33 Both William and his wife were marvellously upheld.
1823 W. Scott St. Ronan's Well III. xi. 281 God send she may not have been left to hersell!—God send she may have been upholden!
1864 Ld. Tennyson Enoch Arden in Enoch Arden, etc. 43 Uphold me, Father, in my loneliness A little longer!
3. † a. To furnish or provide, to perform or discharge, regularly. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > possession > supply > provide or supply (something) [verb (transitive)]
affordOE
findOE
purveyc1300
chevise1340
ministera1382
upholda1417
supply1456
suppeditate1535
perfurnishc1540
previse1543
subminister1576
tend1578
fourd1581
instaurate1583
to find out1600
suffice1626
subministrate1633
affurnisha1641
apply1747
to stump up1833
to lay on1845
to come up with1858
a1417 in M. Sellers York Memorandum Bk. (1912) I. 221 The whilk vj.s. viij.d...sall be keped..to upholde and releve a lyght to be borne..on Corpus Cristy day.
1444 in J. Stuart Extracts Council Reg. Aberdeen (1844) I. 12 Williame Mathouson..sal vphald the ladymesse with uoce..ilke owke for a yher.
1539 in Abst. Protocols Town Clerks of Glasgow (1897) IV. 118 The said maister to uphald and fynd ane pryckat of wax nychtlie byrneand.
b. To maintain in good condition or in a proper state of repair.
ΘΚΠ
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
feeda1000
sustaina1325
keepa1382
entertain1477
uphold1511
upkeep1926
1511 Reg. Privy Seal Scotl. I. 344/2 That the saidis landis salbe uphaldin and keipit unharmit or skaithit.
1535 Act 27 Hen. VIII c. 22 §1 If any Owner..shuld..occupie any suche mese or land..he shulde..uphold and susteyne the same.
1563 in J. H. Burton Reg. Privy Council Scotl. (1877) 1st Ser. I. 246 The Abbottis..wer accustomat.., upoun thair expenssis, to uphald and big the wallis.
1631 J. Weever Anc. Funerall Monuments 333 This Church is vpholden in wondrous good repaire.
1701 in W. O. Blunt 1000 Years Church in Chester-le-Street (1884) 104 Paid Thos. Pearson for upholding ye bell wheels for 7 yeare.
1753 Scots Mag. Apr. 164/2 Provided that the city be obliged to uphold the..buildings in repair.
1816 W. Scott Antiquary I. i. 18 It's Jamie Martingale that furnishes the naigs on contract, and uphauds them.
1833 Stat. 3 & 4 Wm. IV c. 46 §101 Every person..shall uphold and keep in proper repair the fences aforesaid.
1894 Westm. Gaz. 3 May 2/3 He was also bound by a covenant in the lease to ‘uphold’ the premises.
c. To provide with sustenance; to support with food, etc. Now dialect.
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
1546 Reg. Cupar Abbey II. 36 [He] sall vphald honestlie in meit and claytht..the said Jhone Alane.
1574 in J. Cranstoun Satirical Poems Reformation (1891) I. xlii. 380 Rentis sufficient to vphauld Ane gude number of sic Studentis.
1615 G. Markham Countrey Contentments i. viii. 101 The best generall foods for the ordinarie vpholding of a dogge in a good state of body.
1684 J. Smith Profit & Pleasure United 163 The best Food for upholding a dog.]
1863 Mrs. Toogood Specim. Yorks. Dial. (MS.) I kept my brother some time, but he was so wasteful I couldn't uphod him any longer.
4.
a. To support by advocacy or assent; to sustain against objection or criticism.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > testing > attestation, witness, evidence > attest, bear witness [verb (transitive)] > support, corroborate
fasteneOE
i-sothea925
sustainc1325
witness1362
approvec1380
confirmc1384
affirma1393
justifya1393
to bear outa1475
corrobore1485
uphold1485
nourisha1522
underpinc1522
to countenance outa1529
favoura1530
soothe1544
strengthen1548
comfort1593
second1596
accredit1598
evidencea1601
warrantise1600
compact1608
back1612
thickena1616
accreditate1654
shoulder1674
support1691
corroborate1706
carry1835
to give (also lend) colour1921
1485 W. Caxton tr. Paris & Vienne (1957) 11 Other v knyghtes rose vp that mayntened and vphelde the beaute of vyenne.
1525 Ld. Berners tr. J. Froissart Cronycles II. xlv. 153 This worde was vpholden and obserued.
1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 769/1 Sythe he hath sayde it, I wyll upholde it.
1598 R. Bernard tr. Terence Andria iv. iii, in Terence in Eng. 78 See that thou be readie to answer and uphold my talke.
1753–4 S. Richardson Hist. Sir Charles Grandison III. xxvi. 309 He does nothing but hop, skip, and dance about me, grin and make mouths; and every-body upholds him in it.
1781 E. Burke Corr. (1844) II. 451 Perhaps I have wished to uphold with enthusiasm the honour and dignity of the community I belong to.
1818 W. Cruise Digest Laws Eng. Real Prop. (ed. 2) I. 522 The owner of the inheritance, who was interested in upholding it [sc. an arrangement].
1869 J. Martineau Ess. Philos. & Theol. 2nd Ser. 57 This plea..upholds a practice essentially unjust.
1890 Law Times' Rep. 63 733/2 He refused to answer that question, and was upheld in his refusal by the learned judge.
1893 Law Times Rep. 68 444/1 On appeal to the County Court Judge..the decision of the registrar was upheld.
b. To maintain (a statement), to warrant or guarantee (a fact). Now chiefly northern dialect and Scottish.Originally with object complement or clause. In later usage frequently in loose construction, esp. in dialect forms (see β and Eng. Dial. Dict. s.v.). Also with indirect personal dative.
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
α.
β. 1787 F. Grose Provinc. Gloss. Uphowd, to warrant.1793 T. Scott Poems 357 I'se uphaud ye Owr the lugs i' love to be.1807 R. Anderson et al. Ballads in Cumberland Dial. 121 I'll uphod ye, we's 'gree.1820 W. Scott Monastery I. Introd. Ep. 19 ‘I'se uphaud him a scholar,’ answered David.1861 E. Waugh Birtle Carter's Tale 8 Yo'd rayther ha' loaf-brade, aw'll uphowd yo.1891 J. M. Barrie Little Minister I. iii. 48 It was no sport to them, Susy, I'se uphaud.1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 769/1 I upholde a ware or marchaundyse to be good.
1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 769/1 I wyll upholde hym for as sounde a horse as any is in Englande.
1583 A. Golding tr. J. Calvin Serm. on Deuteronomie Pref. Ep. 2 The other side upholdeth..that it is a vilainous defiling of religion.
1652 W. Blith Eng. Improver Improved xiii. 85 I dare uphold one Acre would be as good as divers now are in many parts of it.
1821 W. Scott Kenilworth III. iv. 62 I know that shall make Varney up-hold me sober.
1853 C. M. Yonge Heir of Redclyffe II. xix. 303 He always upheld that you acted for his good.
1897 ‘O. Rhoscomyl’ For White Rose Arno (U.K. ed.) 274 Your names'll do for Chapel, I'll uphold.
5. To raise or lift up; to direct upwards.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > upward movement > raising > make to go up or cause to rise [verb (transitive)] > lift or take up
aheaveeOE
to reach upOE
to draw upOE
bearc1225
upnimc1290
to take upc1330
upholda1400
lutchc1400
hovec1480
upweigha1593
lift1596
poise1689
to up with1825
a1400 Isumbras 52 The knyghte felle on his knes..And bothe his handis uphelde.
c1450 in R. Dyboski Songs, Carols, & Other Misc. Poems (1908) 6/39 Vphold the flowr of gud Jesse, And worship it for ay bewte.
a1500 R. Henryson tr. Æsop Fables: Lion & Mouse l. 1508 in Poems (1981) 60 Scho..baith hir handis vnto the heuin vpheild.
1513 G. Douglas in tr. Virgil Æneid Concl. 8 The bettir part of me sal be vpheild Abuif the starnis perpetualy to ryng.
c1540 (?a1400) Destr. Troy 8760 With a noble sword..naked in his hond, Vp holdand on high as he þat wold stryke.
1618 S. Rowlands Sacred Memorie 24 With eyes vpheld To heauen, he did blesse.
1681 J. Dryden Absalom & Achitophel 19 His Hand a Vare of Justice did uphold.
1891 F. W. Farrar Darkness & Dawn II. xxxix. 57 They upheld their clenched hands..to plead for mercy.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1926; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
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n.a1066
v.?c1225