Pa. t. and pa. pple. kept. Forms: Infin. 1 (2) cépan, 2–3 kepan, 2–4 -en, (4 -in, 5 -yn), 3–5 kep, 3–6 kepe, 5–7 keepe, (6 keype, Sc. keip(e), 6– keep. Pa. t. 1 cépte, 3–5 kepte, (3–4 kipte), 3– kept; 4–5 keped(e, 5 -id, -yd, 5–6 Sc. -it, -yt. Pa. pple. 4 i-kept, 4– kept; 6 Sc. kepit. [Late OE. cépan: no related words known in the cognate langs.; ulterior etymology unknown. The primary sense in OE. is also difficult to ascertain; the verb appears to have been orig. construed with a genitive.
The word prob. belonged primarily to the vulgar and nonliterary stratum of the language; but it comes up suddenly into literary use c. 1000, and that in many senses, indicating considerable previous development. The original sense may have been ‘to lay hold’ with the hands, and hence with the attention, ‘to keep an eye upon, watch.’ About 1000, it was taken to render L. observāre (orig. ‘to watch, keep an eye upon, take note of’), and its subsequent development seems to have been largely influenced by the senses of this L. word, nearly all of which it has been used to render. It also renders the simple L. servāre (orig. ‘to watch, observe’), and the compounds conservāre, præservāre, reservāre. In sense there is also close affinity between keep and HOLD (orig. ‘to keep watch over,’ ‘keep in charge’): in many uses they are still synonymous, and many phrases which have now the one verb formerly had the other; but in later usage, at least, keep implies the exercise of stronger effort to retain, so that have, hold, keep, form a series, the members of which pass into each other with progressive intensity of action. Hold has moreover often a sense of ‘sustain, support, keep from falling,’ not belonging to keep.
If cépan was an old word, it would go back to an OTeut. *kôpjan; but no trace of this vb. is found elsewhere. Some compare OE. copián (found only once) = L. ‘compilare,’ and ME. copnien to watch or wait for; but uncertainty as to the length of the o in these words makes it doubtful whether they belong to the root kôp-. Kluge (Beiträge VIII. 537) has suggested radical connection with OHG. chuofa, OLG. kôpa cask, coop (as a thing for holding or keeping). The alleged Flem. kepen in Kilian is an error.
Uncertainty as to the original sense makes a historical scheme of the sense-development difficult. In the following, some early (and obsolete) senses are placed first under branch I; branch II has the chief trans. senses, * = ‘pay attention, observe,’ ** = ‘guard, preserve,’ *** = ‘hold in custody,’ **** = ‘conduct, carry on’; III the intrans. senses derived from these; IV the combinations with adverbs. Although the four groups under II are distinct enough in the primary and literal senses, the distinction tends to melt away in the fig. uses, and esp. in the innumerable phraseological expressions into which keep enters; in several cases these combine the notions of two or more groups. In many phrases, also, the sense of keep is so indefinite and so dependent upon that of the object or complement, as to be scarcely capable of separate analysis; such phrases are treated under the sb. or adj. in question: e.g., keep COMPANY, keep WATCH, keep CLOSE.]
I. Early senses (with genitive in OE., afterwards with simple object).
1. To seize, lay hold of; to snatch, take. Obs.
c. 1000. Ælfric, Hom., II. 246. Swa hwilcne swa ic cysse, cepað his sona.
a. 1775. Cott. Hom., 243. Gif hi us ofercumeð ne cepeð hi of hus gold ne selfer bute ure bane.
1297. R. Glouc. (Rolls), 2950. Eldol, erl of gloucestre … Barnde & kepte her & þer, & slou aboute wyde.
c. 1330. R. Brunne, Chron. (1810), 166. Fulle broþely & brim he kept vp a trencheour.
† 2. To try to catch or get; to seek after. Obs.
c. 1000. Ælfric, Hom., II. 522. Se ðe oðerne lufað … nele he him hearmes cepan.
c. 1000. St. Basil’s Admon., v. (1849), 46. Ne kep ðu … ðinum nextan facnes.
c. 1175. Lamb. Hom., 107. Þet weo on gode weorcas godes luue kepan, and naut idelȝelp.
c. 1200. Ormin, 1277. Fra þatt hire make iss dæd Ne kepeþþ ȝho nan oþerr.
† 3. To take in, receive, contain, hold. Obs.
c. 1020. Rule St. Benet, xxxvi. (Logeman), 67. Ah þa sylfan untruman … ʓeþyldelice sind to cepanne [L. patienter portandi sunt].
a. 1225. Leg. Kath., 399. Tu schalt … to curt cumen seoðen, & kinemede ikepen.
c. 1325. Body & Soul, in Map’s Poems (Camden), 344/1. Ȝit schalt thou come … to court, and ich the with, For to kepen ure rihte pay.
a. 1340. Hampole, Pr. Consc., 5408. Helle bynethen þat es wyde and depe, Sal þan be open þam to kepe. Ibid., 7371. Helle yhit es swa depe, And swa wyde and large … that it moght kepe Alle the creatures … Of alle the world.
† 4. To take in with the eyes, ears or mind; to take note of, mark, behold, observe. Obs.
c. 1000. Ælfric, Hom., I. 580. Zacheus … cepte þæs Hælendes fær, and wolde ʓeseon hwilc he wære.
c. 1000. Sax. Leechd., III. 268. Menn maʓon … cepan be his bleo … hwylc weder toweard byð.
c. 1127. O. E. Chron., an. 1127. Soðfeste men heom kepten on nihtes.
a. 1325. Prose Psalter cxxix. [cxxx.] 3. Lord, ȝif þou hast kept [Vulg. si observaveris] wickednes, Lord, who shal holde hem vp?
c. 1400. Prymer (1895), 53. Lord! if þou kepist wickidnessis, lord! who schal susteyne?
† b. To watch. Obs.
c. 1000. Lambeth Ps. lv. 7 [lvi. 6] (Bosw.). Hiʓ minne ho oððe hohfot cepaþ oððe beʓemaþ.
1697. Dryden, Æneid, VI. 476. While the stars and course of heaven I keep, My wearied eyes were seiz’d with fatal sleep.
† 5. To watch for, wait for, await (a coming event or person). Obs.
c. 1000. Ælfric, Hom., II. 173. Ða munecas … ʓeorne ðæs andaʓan cepton.
a. 1225. Leg. Kath., 2457. Þe wununge of euch wunne kepeð and copneð þi cume.
c. 1290. Magdalena, 595, in Horstm., Altengl. Leg. (1878), 161. Seiȝe heom þat huy kepen me aftur þe midniȝhte, For þare ich hopie for to beo.
1470–85. Malory, Arthur, VIII. x. Syte Trystram rode pryuely vnto the posterne where kepte hym la beale Isoud.
† 6. To lie in wait for, watch for stealthily with hostile purpose; to intercept on the way. Obs.
c. 1000. Ælfric, Hom., II. 506. Þa ferde Martinus, and þæt folc his cepte, and hine ʓelæhton.
a. 1100. O. E. Chron. (MS. D.), an. 1052. Þa sceoldon cepan Godwines eorles ðe on Brycge wæs.
c. 1205. Lay., 26887. Whar me heom kepen mihte in ane slade deopen.
1297. R. Glouc. (Rolls), 1964. A gret erl him kepte þer in a wod bi syde.
c. 1330. R. Brunne, Chron. (1810), 10. Kebriht he kept at Humber, & on him he ran.
b. intr. or absol. To lie in ambush. Obs. rare.
c. 1205. Lay., 26937. Heo comen in ænne wude … sweoren heom bitwænen þat þer heo wolden kepen.
† c. trans. To intercept (a missile); to ward off (a stroke). See KEP v. Obs.
c. 1175. Lamb. Hom., 153. Þe duntes boð uuel to kepen, þet mon nat nefre on hwilche halue ho wilen falle.
c. 1450. Merlin, 223. Frelent raised the axe … And he kepte the stroke upon his shelde.
† 7. To meet in resistance or opposition; to encounter. Obs.
c. 1205. Lay., 23939. Frolle … igræp his spere longe, and kept Arður anan alse he aneoust com.
13[?]. Gaw. & Gr. Knt., 307. When non wolde kepe hym with carp he coȝed ful hyȝe.
1375. Barbour, Bruce, XIV. 197. Soyn with thair fayis assemblit thai, That kepit thame richt hardely.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 8332. The knight hym kept, cqupit with hym so, That bothe the hathell and his horse hurlit to ground.
† 8. To intercept or meet in a friendly way; to greet, welcome. Obs.
c. 1340. Richard Rolle of Hampole, Prick of Conscience, 5028. Againe þe comyng of Ihesu Criste, To kepe him when he doun sal come [cf. 5051 to mete Criste].
c. 1400. Ywaine & Gaw., 1387. Thai … dight tham in thair best aray, To kepe the King that ilk day.
c. 1450. St. Cuthbert (Surtees), 2004. Þe woman rase … And come Cuthbert for to kepe.
c. 1460. Towneley Myst., xxxi. 48. There mon ye kepe hym at his come.
II. Transitive uses (in early use also intr.).
* To have regard, pay attention to, observe.
† 9. To have regard, to care, to reck; in ME. only with negative: To care nothing, to ‘reck nought.’ a. Const. with genitive, or of. Obs.
a. 1050. O. E. Chron., an. 1013 (MSS. C, E.). Hi nanre brycge ne cepton.
c. 1200. Ormin, 4408. Ȝiff þatt tu nohht ne kepesst her Noff Crist, noff Cristess moderr.
c. 1290. Beket, 998. Go hunnes, of þe ne kepe y noȝt.
1297. R. Glouc. (Rolls), 11359. He ne kepte noþing of hor seruise.
c. 1350. Will. Palerne, 4738. I kepe nouȝt of þi kingdom … ne of þi loueli lemman.
† b. With inf. or obj. cl. To care. Obs.
c. 1175. Lamb. Hom., 55. Bute we bileuen ure ufele iwune, Ne kepeð he noht þet we beon sune.
c. 1200. Ormin, 7191. Ȝiff þatt teȝȝ … griþþ Ne kepenn nohht to follȝhenn.
a. 1250. Owl & Night., 154. Ne kepe ich noht þat þu me clawe.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Knt.’s T., 2102. Ne how the grekes pleye The wake pleyes ne kepe I nat to seye. Ibid., Can. Yeom. Prol. & T., 815. I kepe han [v.rr. to han, haue, to haue, for haue, for to haue] no loos Of my craft.
1477. Sir J. Paston, in P. Lett., III. 188. To any suche bargayne I kepe never to be condescentyng.
c. 1530. Hickscorner, in Hazl., Dodsley, I. 192. Yet I keepe nat to climbe so hye.
1589. Puttenham, Eng. Poesie, I. viii. (Arb.), 36. I kept not to sit sleeping with my Poesie till a Queene came and kissed me.
† c. With simple obj. To care for, to reck of; to regard, desire. Obs.
1297. R. Glouc. (Rolls), 746. He ansuerede … þat he ne kepte bote hire [Cordelia] one wiþ oute alle oþer þinge.
1362. Langl., P. Pl., A. IV. 156. So þat Concience beo vr counseiler, kepe I no betere.
c. 1420. Pallad. on Husb., XII. 270. But as of grauel lond no thing they kepe.
1423. James I., Kingis Q., cxli. More Ioy in erth kepe I noght bot ȝour grace.
1470–85. Malory, Arthur, VI. xv. I had kepte no more ioye in this world but to haue thy body dede.
† 10. intr. To have care, take care; to give heed, attend, look to. Obs.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 26170 (Cott.). Es na herd set for to kepe Wit right bot til his aun scepe. Ibid. (c. 1340), 20099 (Trin.). I shal biteche þe a fere Þat trewely shal kepe [Gött. take kepe] to þe.
1382. Wyclif, Zech. xi. 11. The pore of the floc that kepen to me, knewen thus, for it is the word of the Lord.
a. 1400–50. Alexander, 821. Comand kenely hys knyghtez to kepe to hys blonkez.
11. trans. To pay attention or regard to; to observe, stand to, or dutifully abide by (an ordinance, law, custom, practice, covenant, promise, faith, a thing prescribed or fixed, as a treaty, truce, peace, a set time or day; see further under the sbs.).
In some of these the sense appears to blend with that of ‘maintain, preserve intact.’ In this sense it is usually the opposite of disregard, violate, break.
c. 1000. Ælfric, Hom., II. 324. Swa swa ða clænan nytenu cepað heora timan. Ibid., I. 102. Nu ʓe cepað daʓas and monðas mid ydelum wiʓlungum [cf. 1382 Wyclif Gal. iv. 10 Ȝe kepen [MS. Q gloss or weyten] dayes [Vulg. dies observatis] and monethis, and tymes].
a. 1380. St. Ambrose, 1119, in Horstm., Altengl. Leg. (1878), 25. Whon I come at Rome I kepe þe maner of þat fay … To what churche so euer þou cum Þer of kep þou þe custum.
1387. Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), VIII. 19. He bitook his breþeren þre poyntes to kepe, and seide þat he hadde kepte hem … al his lyf tyme.
1485. Caxton, Chas. Gt., 195. Obeye and kepe hys comandementes.
a. 1533. Ld. Berners, Huon, xlv. 151. I know you wyll kepe couenaunt with me in that ye haue promysyd me.
1549. Latimer, 3rd Serm. bef. Edw. VI. (Arb.), 87. Thy Iudges are vnfaythefull, they kepe no touche … they wil pretende this and that, but thei kepe no promise.
1563. Winȝet, Four Scoir Thre Quest., Wks. 1888, I. 115. St. Paull commandit … his traditionis to be keipit.
1668. R. Steele, Husbandman’s Calling, x. (1672), 273. As breaking rules turn’d the first husbandman out of Paradise, so keeping rules will bring you into Paradise again.
1711. Steele, Spect., No. 41, ¶ 7. It is certain no Faith ought to be kept with Cheats.
1867. Trollope, Chron. Barset, II. lxxx. 346. A gentleman should always keep his word to a lady!
1869. Freeman, Norm. Conq., III. xii. 246. Such an oath was one which he certainly had no thought of keeping.
1891. G. Meredith, One of our Conq., III. xii. 252. He rose; he had to keep an appointment.
12. To observe with due formality and in the prescribed manner (any religious rite, ceremony, service, feast, fast, or other occasion); to celebrate, solemnize.
1432–50. trans. Higden (Rolls), VI. 53. Ordeynenge þe faste of Lente to be kepede in his realme.
1463. Bury Wills (Camden), 17. The wiche messe of our lady I wille the Seynt Marie preest kepe in a whith vestement.
1535. Coverdale, 1 Sam. xxx. 16. They were scatred vpon all ye grounde, eatinge and drynkynge, and kepynge holy daye.
a. 1548. Hall, Chron., Hen. VI., 167 b. Sent to the towre of London, where he without great solempnitie, kept a dolefull Christmas.
1560. Daus, trans. Sleidane’s Comm., 224. But what tyme the maryage was in maner appointed to be kept, he died. Ibid., 451 b. Kyng Ferdinando kept her funerall at Auspurge.
1687. W. Sherwin, in Magd. Coll. (O. H. S.), 216. They … keep disputations and other exercises.
1774. J. Hawley, in J. Adams’s Wks. (1854), IX. 344. He keeps Sabbath at Boston.
1801. Strutt, Sports & Past., III. i. 133. To keep the justs in a place appointed.
1877. Miss Yonge, Cameos, Ser. III. I. 4. The King was keeping the feast of Easter.
1887. Bowen, Virg. Eclogues, III. 76. To-day my birthday is kept.
13. To observe by attendance, presence, residence, performance of duty, or in some prescribed or regular way.
Formerly in to keep church, evensong, market, etc.; now chiefly in to keep chapels, halls, roll-call (at college or school), to keep (prescribed) terms, residence, etc. Also, in weakened sense, to keep regular or proper (and so irregular, late, early) hours. See the sbs.
1450–1530. Myrr. Our Ladye, 29. They that kepe the Chyrch ar parteners of theyr mynistracion.
1479. in Eng. Gilds (1870), 426. The Maire & Shiref shall … kepe theire Aduent sermondes.
15[?]. in Pref. to Ld. Berners’ Froiss. (1812), 13. The King hymselfe … kepte euensong of saynt george in his robe of the garters.
1608. Bp. Hall, Virtues & V., II. 83. Hee … asks what fare is usuall at home, what houres are kept.
a. 1653. Binning, Serm. (1845), 607. They know not how to be saved, unless their prayers do it, or their keeping the kirk.
a. 1713. Ellwood, Autobiog. (1714), 81. A Dyer of Oxford, who constantly kept Thame Market.
1738. Swift, Pol. Conversat., 125. What! you keep Court-Hours I see.
1746. Wesley, Wks. (1872), XII. 76. I keep my church as well as any man.
1821. Shelley, Ginevra, 102. And left her at her own request to keep An hour of quiet and rest.
1824. Scott, Redgauntlet, ch. x. I keep the kirk, and I abhor Popery—I have stood up for the House of Hanover.
1852. Thackeray, Esmond, I. x. So long as he kept his chapels, and did the college exercises required of him.
1894. Ld. Wolseley, Life Marlborough, I. 229. Early hours were generally kept, and the King sometimes went to bed at 9 p.m.
** To guard (from external violence or injury), to preserve, maintain.
14. To guard, defend, protect, preserve, save. (Const. from, † of.) a. a person.
c. 1175. Lamb. Hom., 71. Þu … kep us from his waning, Þat laþe gast, þet laþe þing.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 14075. I sal þe kepe forth fra þis dai.
c. 1330. Spec. Gy Warw., 48. To kepen his soule from þe qued.
1377. Langl., P. Pl., B. Prol. 125. Crist kepe þe, sire kyng.
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 272/2. Kepyn, custodio, servo, conservo.
c. 1489. Caxton, Blanchardyn, xiv. 48. His goode shelde kept hym.
1593. T. Watson, Tears Fancie, xxii. Poems (Arb.), 189. My Mistres slept: And with a garland … Her daintie forehead from the sunne ykept.
1599. Shaks., Hen. V., V. i. 71. God bu’y you, and keepe you, and heale your pate.
1669. Bunyan, Holy Citie, 18. It is called a City … to shew us how strong and securely it will keep its Inhabitants at that day.
1697. Ken, Evening Hymn, i. Keep me, O keep me, King of kings, Beneath Thine own Almighty wings.
1719. Hamilton, 3rd Ep. to Ramsay, xiii. May thou … Be keeped frae the wirricow, After thou’s dead.
1887. Swinburne, Locrine, IV. i. 234. God keep my lord!
b. a thing.
c. 1250. Gen. & Ex., 3378. He let bi-aften ðe more del, To kepen here ðing al wel.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 10035 (Gött.). Þer standis thre baylis widvte, Þat wele kepis þat castel For [v.r. from] arw, schott and quarel.
c. 1330. R. Brunne, Chron. (1810), 161. Bernard of Bayoun, þat was kepand þe se.
c. 1380. Antecrist, in Todd, Three Treat. Wyclif (1851), 129. To kepe þe chaumbur and halle of noyse and dyn.
c. 1470. Golagros & Gaw., 44. The yettis war clenely kepit with ane castell.
a. 1533. Ld. Berners, Huon, lii. 177. It were better for the to … helpe to kepe a towne or a castell.
1560. Daus, trans. Sleidane’s Comm., 400 b. The horsemen were left … to defende and kepe the passage.
1672. R. Montagu, in Buccleuch MSS. (Hist. MSS. Comm.), I. 519. To help in keeping my corner against your enemies and mine.
1683. Plymouth Col. Rec. (1856), VI. 114. Keeping the dores and not opening them to the said John Irish when hee come.
1842. Macaulay, Horatius, xxix. Now who will stand on either hand, And keep the bridge with me?
1892. J. L. Ford, in St. Nicholas Mag., XIV. 541/2. They ’re not keeping our goal as they ought to.
c. from some injurious operation or accident.
1375. Barbour, Bruce, XVII. 177. Thai kepit that fra distroying.
1398. Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., XVI. xciv. (MS. Bodl.), lf. 183/2. Salte … kepeþ and saueþ dede bodies fro rotinge.
1579. Gosson, Sch. Abuse (Arb.), 61. You must keepe your sweete faces from scorching in the sun, chapping in the winde, and warping with the weather, which is best performed by staying within.
1596. Shaks., Tam. Shr., III. ii. 59. To keepe him from stumbling.
1631. Gouge, God’s Arrows, III. § 65. 304. They were wont … to annoint their rolles … with a liquour … which kept them from rotting.
† d. refl. To defend oneself; to be on one’s guard. Obs.
c. 1175. Lamb. Hom., 59. To blecen … his nome and kepen us from hearm and scome.
c. 1375. Cursor M., 10071 (Laud). Was no man … Might kepe hym from that fend felle.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 7860. We are folke full fele … Assemblit in this Cite oure seluyn to kepe.
1470–85. Malory, Arthur, IX. xvii. Sir Tristram drewe oute his swerd, and said, sire Kehydius, kepe the.
1535. Coverdale, Jer. ix. 4. One must kepe himself from another.
1634. W. Tirwhyt, trans. Balzac’s Lett. (vol. I.), 15. I keepe my selfe as carefully as though I were composed of christall.
† 15. To be on one’s guard against some action or occurrence; to take care, beware (that …). a. refl. Obs.
c. 1340. Cursor M., 8389 (Trin.). I haue me kept þat neuer oþer wiþ me siþen slept.
13[?]. Gaw. & Gr. Knt., 372. ‘Kepe þe, cosyn,’ quoth þe kyng, ‘þat þou on kyrf sette.’
1483. Caxton, Gold. Leg., 179/1. Kepe ye wel that thou telle thys vysyon to no man.
† b. intr. or with obj. cl. Obs.
c. 1375. Sc. Leg. Saints, iii. (Andrew), 216. Þe Iuge … dange hym in a dongeone depe, Þat he na schapit bad to kepe [= bade to take care that he escaped not].
c. 1386. Chaucer, Prol., 130. Wel koude she carie a morsel and wel kepe That no drope ne fille vp on hire brist.
c. 1400. Maundev. (Roxb.), xxiii. 108. Before þe dure standez certayne lordes … for to kepe þat nane entre in at þe dure.
c. 1500. Melusine, 112. Kepe wel ye borow nothing but that ye may yeld it ayen.
1526. Tindale, Pathw. Script., Wks. (Parker Soc.), I. 23. We tame the flesh therewith … and keep that the lusts choke not the word of God.
16. To take care of, look to the well-being of; to look after, watch over, tend, have charge of. a. a person.
c. 1250. Gen. & Ex., 2625. Ghe kepte it wel in fostre wune, Ghe knew it for hire owen sune.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 16761. Als for his moder Iohn hir keped, And in his ward hir toke.
c. 1350. Will. Palerne, 66. Wiȝtliche wiþ þe child he went to his house, and bitok it to his wif tiȝtly to kepe.
1420. in E. E. Wills (1882), 54. I will þat þe Nonne þat kepid me in my seknes haue ij nobles.
1513. More, Rich. III. (1883), 38. Mans law serueth the gardain to kepe the infant. The law of nature wyll the mother kepe her childe.
1599. Shaks., Hen. V., II. i. 33. Cal’st thou mee Hoste … I sweare I scorne the terme: nor shall my Nel keep Lodgers.
b. cattle or the like.
c. 1250. Gen. & Ex., 2772. Moyses was numen … for te loken hirdnesse fare; Riche men ðo kepten swilc ware.
c. 1350. Will. Palerne, 8. Þis cowherd comes … to kepen is bestes Fast by-side þe borwȝ.
c. 1400. Three Kings Cologne, 29. Þe schepherdes of þat contrey … be wonte to kepe her flok of schepe in þe nyȝt.
1526. Tindale, Luke xv. 15. A citesyn … sent hym to the felde to kepe [1611 feed] his swyne.
1535. Coverdale, 1 Sam. xvi. 11. There is yet one … and beholde, he kepeth [1611 keepeth and R.V.] the shepe.
1600. Shaks., A. Y. L., I. i. 40. Shall I keepe your hogs, and eat huskes with them?
1632. Lithgow, Trav., III. 93. Flockes of them feeding in the fields, and usually kept by children.
1697. Dryden, Virg. Georg., IV. 567. This Neptune gave him, when he gave to keep His scaly Flocks.
1801. Strutt, Sports & Past., II. ii. 65. David, who kept his father’s sheep.
c. a thing.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 5292. Þe lordshipe of al þis lond To reule & kepe is in myn hond.
a. 1325. Maudelein, 1, in Horstm., Altengl. Leg. (1878), 163. Martha keped swiþe wel Hir londes.
1377. Langl., P. Pl., B. XII. 115. Archa dei in þe olde lawe leuites it kepten.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Doctor’s T., 85. A theef of venysoun, that hath forlaft … his olde craft, Kan kepe a fforest best of any man.
1500–20. Dunbar, Poems, lii. 10. Ȝour Hienes can nocht gett ane meter To keip ȝour wardrope.
1535. Coverdale, Exod. xxii. 7. Yf a man delyuer his neghboure money or vessels to kepe, and it be stollen from him out of his house [etc.].
1585. T. Washington, trans. Nicholay’s Voy., I. xi. 13 b. The Caddy, which keepeth the town upon tribute under the king of Alger.
1712–4. Pope, Rape Lock, V. 115. There Hero’s wits are kept in pond’rous vases.
1850. Tennyson, In Mem., xxiii. The shadow cloak’d from head to foot, Who keeps the keys of all the creeds.
17. To maintain or preserve in proper order.
1382. Wyclif, Ecclus. xliii. 4. Kepende the furneys in the werkis of brennyng.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Merch. T., 138. Wel may the sike man biwaille and wepe Ther as ther nys no wyf the hous to kepe.
1463. Bury Wills (Camden), 28. Yeerly to the Sexteyn … viijs. to kepe the clokke.
1667. Milton, P. L., VIII. 320. This Paradise I give thee, count it thine To Till and keep.
1699. Lister, Journ. Paris, 188. This is the only House in Paris I saw kept … with the most exact cleanliness and neatness, Gardens and all.
1827. Steuart, Planter’s G. (1828), 352. This space is kept with the scythe.
1862. Temple Bar Mag., IV. 259. His rooms were as neatly kept as those of a woman.
18. To maintain continuously in proper form and order (a record, diary, journal, accounts of money received and paid, etc.). To keep books, to make the requisite entries in a merchant’s books so that these shall always represent the state of his commercial relations: see BOOK-KEEPING.
1552. Ordre Hosp. St. Barthol., B v b. (Treasurer) Ye shal also kepe one seueral accompte betweene the Renter & you. Ibid., C j. (Almoner) Keping one entier and perfecte Inuentarie … in a boke.
1560. Daus, trans. Sleidane’s Comm., 175. Notaryes and scribes … whyche shoulde penne, and kepe althynges diligentelye.
1604. E. G[rimstone], D’Acosta’s Hist. Indies, IV. vii. 226. The first Registers of Entries are not so exactly kept as at this day.
1633. Massinger, Guardian, I. i. A hopeful youth, to keep A merchant’s book.
1751. Labelye, Westm. Br., 66–7. The keeping proper Accounts of these was … allotted to Richard Graham.
1803. Pic Nic, No. 14 (1806), II. 251. He had kept a diary of all his transactions.
1869. W. Longman, Hist. Edw. III., I. xiv. 262. No record was kept of the losses of the English.
1891. Speaker, 2 May, 531/1. The useful habit of keeping commonplace books.
19. To provide for the sustenance of; to provide with food and clothing and other requisites of life; to maintain, support. Also refl.
1377. Langl., P. Pl., B. Prol. 76. Thus þey geuen here golde glotones to kepe [A. Prol. 73 Glotonye to helpen].
c. 1475. Rauf Coilȝear, 960. Than Schir Rauf gat rewaird to keip his Knichtheid.
15[?]. in Dunbar’s Poems (S.T.S.), 306/44. Spend pairt of the gude thow wan, And keip the ay with honestie.
1616. Beaum. & Fl., Scornf. Lady, III. ii. (1635), E iv. What shall become of my poore family, they are no sheepe, and they must keepe themselves.
1668. R. Steele, Husbandman’s Calling, ii. (1672), 16. A husbandman is a man … that makes the ground that bred him keep him.
1858. Jrnl. R. Agric. Soc., XIX. I. 207. The land would barely keep the cows and horses.
1839. Mrs. Lynn Linton, Thro’ Long Night, I. I. viii. 131. Should he ever be able to keep a wife?
Mod. He cannot keep himself yet, but is dependent on his parents.
b. Const. in (the particular item provided).
1888. ‘Sarah Tytler,’ Blackhall Ghosts, II. xix. 117. Jem has to keep us in everything, in clothes as well as the rest.
1890. Mrs. H. Wood, House of Halliwell, I. xii. 323. He kept the younger ladies in gloves.
20. To maintain, employ, entertain in one’s service, or for one’s use or enjoyment: in reference to animals or things, there is a mingling of the sense of possession.
a. 1548. Hall, Chron., Edw. IV., 233 b. [He] caused ·iij· C. men of armes to be kept secretly in their capitaynes houses.
1598. Shaks., Merry W., I. i. 284. I keepe but three Men, and a Boy yet, till my Mother be dead. Ibid. (1607), Timon, IV. iii. 200. Because thou dost not keepe a dogge.
1637. Star Chamb. Decree, § 28. No Master-Founder … shall keepe aboue two Apprentices.
1789. Brand, Hist. Newcastle, II. 237. November 24th 1697, there is an order of this society forbidding the apprentices … to keep horses, dogs for hunting, or fighting cocks.
1833. H. Martineau, Briery Creek, iii. 63. This morning, you thought of no such thing as keeping pigs.
1853. T. T. Lynch, Self-Improvement, v. 104. A man … who ‘keeps a gig,’ but cannot ‘afford to keep a conscience.’
1860. Temple Bar Mag., I. 42. Rich men kept a newsmonger, as they kept a valet.
1893. National Observer, 6 May, 619/2. He need not himself keep chickens.
b. To keep a woman as mistress; to keep a newspaper as a hired organ: cf. KEPT 1.
1560. Daus, trans. Sleidane’s Comm., 49. Others kept harlots, and lived dishonestly.
1606. Shaks., Tr. & Cr., V. i. 104. They say, he keepes a Troyan Drab.
1660. F. Brooke, trans. Le Blanc’s Trav., 36. Giving a box on the ear to a Lord that kept her for a time.
1712. Steele, Spect., No. 276, ¶ 3. I am kept by an old Batchelor.
1728. Young, Love Fame, III. 196. Philander … In secret loves his wife, but keeps her maid.
1895. Ménie Muriel Dowie, Gallia, 114. It was habitual for women to disapprove of a man who kept a mistress.
21. To have habitually in stock or on sale.
1706. [E. Ward], Wooden World Dissected (1708), 57. The worser Liquor he keeps, the more he brews his own Profit.
1851. Hawthorne, Ho. Sev. Gables, iii. 41. [She] gave her hot customer to understand that she did not keep the article.
† 22. refl. To conduct or comport oneself, behave. Obs.
1362. Langl., P. Pl., A. I. 92. Kynges and knihtes scholde kepen hem bi Reson.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Doctor’s T., 106. This mayde … So kept hir self, hir neded no maistresse.
c. 1400. Lanfranc’s Cirurg., 272. I tauȝte him how he schulde kepe him-silf, and how he schulde diete him-silf.
23. To preserve in being or operation; to maintain, retain, or continue to hold (a quality, state or condition) or to practise or exercise (a habit or action). Cf. keep up in 57 d, e.
Hence in many phrases, as to keep silence; to keep affinity, companionship, company, consort, converse, correspondence; to keep compass, measure, pace, step, time, tune, wing (with); to keep guard, a look out, sentinel, ward, watch: for which when the sense is specialized, see the sbs.
c. 1315. Shoreham, 11. The prestes so thries duppeth … gode ȝeme kepeth The ned.
c. 1375. Sc. Leg. Saints, xxvii. (Machor), 343. He kepyt ay his innocens.
c. 1380. Wyclif, Wks. (1880), 21. So þat þei kepen pacience and charite.
c. 1400. Apol. Loll., 42. Crist kepid ai þat state.
c. 1470. Henry, Wallace, XI. 316. That king till him kepit kyndnes and luff.
a. 1480. in Babees Bk., 20/52. Honoure and curtesy loke þou kepe.
1500–20. Dunbar, Poems, xxix. 18. Than mon I keip ane grauetie.
1530. Palsgr., 596/2. I kepe abstynence, I forbeare meate and drinke.
a. 1548. Hall, Chron. Hen. VIII., 261 b. Charitie is not kept amongest you.
1552. Huloet, To kepe bawdrye or whoredome.
1568. Grafton, Chron., II. 32. Now almost no countrie kepeth either weight or measure one with the other to the great hurt of the Realme.
1597. Shaks., 1 Hen. IV., V. iv. 65. Two Starres keepe not their motion in one Sphere. Ibid. (1603), Meas. for M., II. i. 5. Let it keepe one shape.
1632. B. Jonson, Magn. Lady, II. i. Wks. (Rtldg.), 447/1. You, that will keep consort with such fidlers.
1651. Wittie, trans. Primrose’s Pop. Err., III. ii. 138. The Ancients … did keep a frequent use of baths and frictions.
1698. Fryer, Acc. E. India & P., 331. To make them [Lamb-skins] keep their Curl.
a. 1715. Burnet, Own Time (1823), II. III. 51. To keep no farther correspondence with duke Hamilton.
1750. Gray, Elegy, xix. Along the cool sequester’d vale of life They kept the noiseless tenour of their way.
1818. Shelley, Rev. Islam, II. xviii. Did Laon and his friend … a lofty converse keep. Ibid. (1822), Hellas, 18. Who now keep That calm sleep.
1890. F. M. Crawford, Cigarette-maker’s Rom., I. iii. 99. The Count himself kept his composure admirably.
24. With complement: To preserve, maintain, retain, or cause to continue, in some specified condition, state, place, position, action or course.
The complement may be an adj., sb., pple., adv., or prep. phrase, e.g., to keep alive, clean, close, dark, dry, fast, holy, open, secret, still, sweet, warm; to keep a prisoner, a secret; to keep going, shut; to keep at arm’s length, at bay, at it, at work, in countenance, in readiness, in repair, in suspense, in touch, out of mischief, to time, etc. For these in specialized senses, and for phrases, such as to keep the ball rolling, the pot boiling, one’s hair on, one’s eye upon, one’s eyes about one, one’s head above water, etc., see the adjs. or sbs.
c. 1340. Hampole, Prose Tr., 8. Scho [the bee] kepes clene and bryghte hire winges.
1377. Langl., P. Pl., B. V. 623. Þe dore closed Kayed and cliketted to kepe þe with-outen.
1414. Brampton, Penit. Ps., xix. (Percy Soc.), 8. My synne[s], that I in schryfte schulde schewe, I kepe hem clos for schame or fere.
a. 1500. in Babees Bk., 19/42. Yt kepys hym out offe synne & blame. Ibid., 21/66. Hande, fote, & fynger kepe þou styll.
1500–20. Dunbar, Poems, xlviii. 70. Scho bad eik Juno … That scho the hevin suld keip amene and dry.
1585. T. Washington, trans. Nicholay’s Voy., III. xxii. 112. To keepe the Arabians … in greater sobriety. Ibid., IV. xv. 130. They … kept the portes and passages so shutte, that they kept away the corne.
1593. Shaks., Rich. II., III. ii. 28. That Power that made you King Hath power to keepe you King.
1607. Topsell, Four-f. Beasts (1658), 119. It is necessary that their kennel be kept sweet and dry.
1657. R. Ligon, Barbadoes (1673), 102. To keep it continually in the shade.
1698. Fryer, Acc. E. India & P., 125. I kept the Coolies to their Watch.
1712. Steele, Spect., No. 263, ¶ 4. It is [thus] … that Hatreds are kept alive. Ibid., No. 264, ¶ 2. While he could keep his Poverty a Secret.
1774. Goldsm., Nat. Hist. (1776), V. 126. He is … still kept fast by a string.
1840. Jrnl. R. Agric. Soc., I. III. 225. The ploughmen could scarcely keep their ploughs in the ground.
1845. Ford, Handbk. Spain, I. 66. Keep the door shut and the devil passes by.
1854. Dickens, Hard Times, I. xiv. In the daytime old Bounderby has been keeping me at it rather.
1883. G. M. Fenn, Middy & Ensign, xxxi. I’ll keep him to his promise.
1890. T. F. Tout, Hist. Eng. from 1689, 48. He kept the merchants and tradesmen Whigs by his sound commercial … measures.
1891. Temple Bar Mag., Feb., 281. There was the steam kettle to keep on the boil.
1892. National Observer, 17 Dec., 100/1. It promises help … to keep him in funds when he is out on strike.
b. refl. To preserve or maintain oneself, or continue, in such condition, etc. (Hence the intrans. use in 39.)
1362. Langl., P. Pl., A. I. 169. Curatours þat schulden kepe hem clene of heore bodies.
a. 1380. Virg. Antioch, 137, in Horstm., Altengl. Leg. (1878), 27. I may me kepe chast eueridel.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 10513. Kepis you in couer, cleane out of sight!
c. 1430. Syr Gener. (Roxb.), 2835. This traitour kept him close that night.
c. 1489. Caxton, Sonnes of Aymon, xxiv. 512. Baron, kepe you by reynawde.
a. 1533. Ld. Berners, Huon, xxi. 64. Yf ye can kepe your selfe without spekynge to hym, ye maye than well skape.
1549. (Mar.) Bk. Comm. Prayer, Matrimony. Wilt thou … forsaking all other kepe thee only to her, so long as you both shall liue?
1585. T. Washington, trans. Nicholay’s Voy., I. iv. 3 b. Theyr watches keepe themselves in an ambush neare unto a wood.
1788. W. Blane, Hunt. Excurs., 15. The Prince, by laying hold of the Howdah, kept himself in his seat.
1879. Browning, Martin Relph, 32. The many and loyal should keep themselves unmixed with the few perverse.
*** To detain or hold in custody, restraint, concealment, etc.; to prevent from escaping or being taken from one.
25. To hold as a captive or prisoner; to hold in custody or in restraint of personal liberty; to prevent from escaping.
c. 1330. R. Brunne, Chron. (1810), 219. Þat kept him in prisoun, Edward did him calle.
1375. Barbour, Bruce, XVIII. 512. He … bad haf him avay in hy, And luk he kepit war stratly.
1382. Wyclif, Acts xvi. 23. Thei senten hem into prisoun, commaundinge to the kepere that he diligentli schulde kepe hem.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 12084. Þat commly be keppet, ne in cloese haldyn.
1526. Tindale, Acts xxviii. 16. Paul was suffered to dwell alone with wone soudier that kept hym.
1585. T. Washington, trans. Nicholay’s Voy., I. vii. 6. They kept me as prisoner.
1892. Law Times, XCIII. 414/2. He did not think that the defendant ought to be kept in prison any longer.
26. To retain in a place or position by moral constraint; to restrain from going away; to cause or induce to remain; to detain. Also fig.
1653. Middleton & Rowley, Changeling, V. iii. Keep life in him for further tortures.
1782. Cowper, Progr. Err., 416. A dunce that has been kept at home.
1801. Pitt, in G. Rose’s Diaries (1860), I. 291. I have been kept till this instant.
1877. Miss Yonge, Cameos, Ser. III. xxix. 291. Colet would fain have kept Erasmus to lecture at Oxford.
1885. ‘E. F. Byrrne’ (Emma Frances Brooke), Entangled, II. xviii. 29. Don’t let me keep you.
1890. W. Clark Russell, Ocean Trag., I. ii. 31. There was nothing to keep me in England.
27. To hold back, prevent, withhold; to restrain, control. Const. from (off, out of).
c. 1340. Cursor M., 2893 (Fairf.). Ihesu criste ȝou kepe fra syn.
c. 1460. Urbanitas, 74, in Babees Bk., 15. In chambur among ladyes bryȝth Kepe thy tonge and spende thy syȝth.
1539. Bible (Great), Ps. xxxiv. 13. Kepe thy tonge from euell.
1560. Daus, trans. Sleidane’s Comm., 355. Yea they … have not kept their handes also from yonge babes and children.
1591. Shaks., 1 Hen. VI., I. i. 160. The Earle of Salisbury … hardly keepes his men from mutinie.
1642. Milton, Apol. Smect., viii. How hard is it when a man meets with a Foole to keepe his tongue from folly!
1650. Weldon, Crt. Jas. I., 139. The Bishops might have done better to have kept their voyces.
1729. Butler, Serm. Balaam, Wks. 1874, II. 87. Those partial regards to his duty … might keep him from perfect despair.
1858. Jrnl. R. Agric. Soc., XIX. I. 184. A cold, dry spring may keep the seed from vegetating.
b. refl. To restrain oneself, refrain, hold back; to abstain. (Hence intr., sense 43.)
c. 1340. Richard Rolle of Hampole, Prick of Conscience, 954. Gude it es þat a man him kepe Fra worldisshe luf and vany worshepe.
c. 1460. in Babees Bk., 13/19. Fro spettyng & snetyng kepe þe also.
1483. Caxton, G. de la Tour, D v b. This is a good ensample to awarraunt and kepe hymself of fals beholdynge.
c. 1500. Melusine, xxxvi. 295. Hys brother coude not kepe hym, but he asked after Melusyne.
a. 1533. Ld. Berners, Huon, lix. 205. He … coude not a kept hym selfe fro lawghynge.
1601. Shaks., Two Gent., IV. iv. 11. ’Tis a foule thing, when a cur cannot keepe himselfe in all companies.
1892. Black & White, 26 Nov., 610/1. I shall not be able to keep myself from strangling her.
28. To withhold from present use, to reserve; to lay up, store up. refl. To reserve oneself.
c. 1340. Cursor M., 970 (Fairf.). Of alkyn frute þat ys þine Kepe me þe teynde for þat ys myne.
c. 1400. Maundev. (1839), V. 52. The Gerneres … to kepe the greynes for the perile of the dere ȝeres.
1535. Coverdale, 2 Esdras ix. 21. I … haue kepte me a wynebery of the grapes.
1579. Gosson, Sch. Abuse (Arb.), 17. Philip … exhorted his friends to keepe their stomackes for the seconde course.
1632. Lithgow, Trav., VI. 258. The water of Jordan … the longer it is kept, it is the more fresher.
1822. Shelley, Hellas, 879. The Anarchs … keep A throne for thee.
1868. Freeman, Norm. Conq., II. x. 428. The … Chronicler … seems rather to keep himself for great occasions. Ibid. (1875), (ed. 2), III. xii. 77. I have purposely kept that question for this stage of my history.
29. Actively to hold in possession; to retain in one’s power or control; to continue to have, hold or possess. Also absol. (The opposite of to lose: now a leading sense.)
c. 1400. Maundev., xxiii. (1839), 252. Thei con wel wynnen lond of Straungeres, but thei con not kepen it.
c. 1460. Fortescue, Abs. & Lim. Mon., vi. (1885), 121. It is power to mowe haue and kepe to hym self.
c. 1470. Henry, Wallace, IX. 1935. Off ryches he kepyt no propyr thing; Gaiff as he wan.
1559. Mirr. Mag., Dk. Suffolk, viii. To get and kepe not is but losse of payne.
1596. Shaks., 1 Hen. IV., I. iii. 213. Ile keepe them all. By heauen, he shall not haue a Scot of them.
1662. Stillingfl., Orig. Sacr., III. iii. § 8. With what care they are got, with what fear they are kept, and with what certainty they must be lost.
a. 1715. Burnet, Own Time (1823), I. II. 159. The great art of keeping him long was, the being easy, and the making everything easy to him.
1803. Pic Nic, No. 8 (1806), II. 41. These poets now keep but a feeble hold of the stage.
1861. Temple Bar Mag., III. 336. The variety keeps the children’s attention.
1890. Bret Harte, in Lippincott’s Mag., May, 632. His slim forefinger between its leaves to keep the place.
Mod. The difficulty now is not to make money, but to keep it; you make it and lose it.
1627. Capt. Smith, Seaman’s Gram., ix. 39. If you would … keepe your owne, that is, not … fall to lee-ward.
c. fig. in phrases, as to keep one’s temper (i.e., not to lose it): see the sbs.
† d. ellipt. To retain in the memory, remember.
1573. Baret, Alv., I 27. We keepe those thinges most surely, that we learne in youth.
1612. Brinsley, Lud. Lit., 141. Thus they shall keepe their Authours, which they haue learned.
30. To withhold (from): implying exertion or effort to prevent a thing from going or getting to another.
c. 1461. Paston Lett., II. 73. It is a comon proverbe, ‘A man xuld kepe fro the blynde and gevyt to is kyn.’
1568. Grafton, Chron., II. 282. Mine adversary, who kepeth wrongfully from me mine heritage.
1585. T. Washington, trans. Nicholay’s Voy., IV. xvi. 131. Where they would not receive his salvation, the same for ever shalbe kept from them.
1667. Milton, P. L., IX. 746. Great are thy Vertues, doubtless, best of Fruits, Though kept from Man.
31. To hide, conceal; not to divulge. Chiefly in phr., as to keep COUNSEL, a SECRET: see the sbs.
1382. Wyclif, Isa. xlviii. 6. Thingus … kept ben that thou knowist not.
c. 1400. Rom. Rose, 2858. A felowe that can welle concele, And kepe thi counselle, and welle hele.
1560. Daus, trans. Sleidane’s Comm., 321 b. To the promotours they promise a reward and to kepe their counsel.
1781. D. Williams, trans. Voltaire’s Dram. Wks., II. 233. Take the money and keep the secret.
1847. Marryat, Childr. N. Forest, xvii. ‘You must keep our secret, Oswald.’
1859. Thackeray, Virgin., xxi. There is no keeping any thing from you.
1888. G. Gissing, Life’s Morn., II. xiv. 227. For a week he kept his counsel, and behaved as if nothing unusual had happened.
32. To continue to follow (a way, path, course, etc.), so as not to lose it or get out of it.
c. 1425. Lydg., Assembly of Gods, 256. Thowgh ye wepe yet shal ye before me Ay kepe your course.
1553. S. Cabot, in Hakluyt, Voy. (1589), 259. All courses in Navigation to be set and kept by the aduice of the Captain.
1595. Shaks., John, II. i. 339. Vnlesse thou let his siluer Water, keepe A peacefull progresse to the Ocean. Ibid. (1598), Merry W., III. ii. 1. Nay keepe your way … you were wont to be a follower, but now you are a Leader.
1632. Lithgow, Trav., VI. 258. The Friers and Souldiers removed; keeping their course towards Jericho.
1719. De Foe, Crusoe, II. ix. We kept no path.
1870. E. Peacock, Ralf Skirl., II. 98. Taking care to keep the middle of the road.
1892. Field, 21 May, 777/1. How the driver kept the track is a marvel.
33. To stay or remain in, on or at (a place); not to leave; esp. in to keep one’s bed, one’s room (as in sickness); to keep the house. Cf. keep to, 44 b.
1413. Pilgr. Sowle (Caxton), I. xxii. (1859), 25. Thou kepyst now thy bed. Thyne ydlenes and slouthe hath this y bred.
c. 1430. Syr Gener. (Roxb.), 1526. His doghtre Clarionas She kept the chambre, as Reason was.
1523. Ld. Berners, Froiss., I. xlix. 69. These engyns dyd cast night and day great stones … so that they within were fayne to kepe vautes and sellars.
1534–1828. [see BED sb. 6 c].
1542–1864. [see HOUSE sb. 17 d].
1575. Laneham, Lett. (1871), 33. The weather being hot, her highnes kept the Castl for coolness.
1647. Trapp, Comm., Titus ii. 5. 343. The Ægyptian women ware no shoes, that they might the better keep home.
1667. Sir E. Lyttelton, in Hatton Corr. (Camden), 51. I have kept my chamber ever since last Tuesday.
1796. Jane Austen, Pride & Prej., xiii. My poor mother is really ill, and keeps her room.
1885. Emily Lawless, Millionaire’s Cousin, iv. 76. Am I bound to keep my own side of the partition?
b. To stay or retain one’s place in or on, against opposition; as to keep the deck, the saddle, the field, the stage, one’s seat, one’s ground.
1599. Shaks., Hen. V., IV. vi. 2. But all’s not done, yet keepe the French the field.
1632. Lithgow, Trav., III. 99. The tempest continuing (our Boate not being able to keepe the Seas) we were constrained to seeke into a Creeke.
1748. Anson’s Voy., III. i. 298. Only sixteen men, and eleven boys were capable of keeping the deck.
1823. Blackw. Mag., XIV. 555. Not a single tragedy of Beaumont and Fletcher’s has been able to keep the stage.
1835. Thirlwall, Greece, I. iv. 113. It [the story] kept its ground in spite of the interest … in distorting or suppressing it.
1849. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., v. I. 579. The wonder is … that they were able to keep their seats.
1890. Blackw. Mag., CXLVIII. 435/2. A first-class boat, capable of keeping the sea all the year round.
**** To carry on, conduct, hold.
34. To carry on, conduct, as presiding officer or a chief actor (an assembly, court, fair, market, etc.); = HOLD v. 8.
1432–50. trans. Higden (Rolls), V. 119. [Silvester] whiche kepede the firste grete cownsayle of Nicene.
c. 1489. Caxton, Sonnes of Aymon, 202. He wolde kepe parlyamente wyth them.
1535. Coverdale, 2 Macc. iv. 43. Of these matters therfore there was kepte a courte agaynst Menelaus.
1546. in Eng. Gilds (1870), 222. In the same Towne there ys a merkett, wekely kepte.
1585. T. Washington, trans. Nicholay’s Voy., III. xvii. 102 b. There … they kept a generall chapter or assembly.
1634. W. Wood, New Eng. Prosp. (1865), 42. This Towne [Boston] … being the Center of the Plantations where the monthly Courts are kept.
1752. Fielding, Amelia, XI. iii. His wife soon afterwards began to keep an assembly, or, in the fashionable phrase, to be ‘at home’ once a week.
1877. Miss Yonge, Cameos, Ser. III. xxi. 196. Henry was keeping court at Lincoln, where he meant to spend Easter.
35. To carry on and manage, to conduct as one’s own (an establishment or business, a school, shop, etc.). To keep house: see HOUSE sb. 17 a, b.
1513. More, in Grafton, Chron. (1568), II. 761. Edward the Noble Prince … kept his house at Ludlow in Wales.
1601. Shaks., Twel. N., III. ii. 81. Like a Pedant that keepes a Schoole i’ th Church.
1660. F. Brooke, trans. Le Blanc’s Trav., 29. He kept an Inn common to all passengers.
1698. Fryer, Acc. E. India & P., 194. Barbers … seldom keep Shop, but go about the City with a checquered Apron over their Shulders.
1711. Steele, Spect., No. 155, ¶ 2. I keep a Coffee-house.
1877. W. O. Russell, Crimes & Misdem., I. II. xxviii. 427. The keeping a bawdy-house (n) is a common nuisance.
1890. J. Sturges, in Harper’s Mag., Oct., 747/2. So they came here and kept lodgings.
36. To carry on, maintain; to continue to make, cause, or do (an action, war, disturbance, or the like). Cf. keep up, 57 f.
c. 1425. Lydg., Assembly of Gods, 1825. In man shall thow fynde that werre kept dayly.
1560. Daus, trans. Sleidane’s Comm., 208 b. Warre was to be kepte upon hys frontiers.
1568–1807. [see COIL sb.2 4].
1590. Shaks., Com. Err., III. i. 61. Who is that at the doore yt keepes all this noise? Ibid. (1601), Twel. N., II. iii. 76. What a catterwalling doe you keepe heere?
1602. Marston, Antonio’s Rev., III. iv. What an idle prate thou keep’st, good nurse; goe sleepe.
1665. Glanvill, Def. Van. Dogm., 41. ’Tis strange that the Ancients should keep such ado about an easie Probleme.
a. 1784. Johnson, in Mrs. Piozzi’s Anecd., 34. The nonsense you now keep such a stir about.
1818. Shelley, Rev. Islam, VI. vii. Ships from Propontes keep A killing rain of fire.
III. Intransitive uses.
* Arising from ellipsis of reflexive pronoun.
37. To reside, dwell, live, lodge. (Freq. in literary use from c. 1580 to 1650; now only colloq., esp. at Cambridge University and in U. S.)
[1402–3. Durham Acc. Rolls (Surtees), 217. Camera ubi pueri custodiunt.]
c. 1400. Maundev. (Roxb.), xxv. 117. Þis emperour … hase many men kepand at his courte.
1401. Pol. Poems (Rolls), II. 65. Sich as ben gaderid in coventis … the whiche for worldly combraunce kepen in cloistris.
1504. Bury Wills (Camden), 102. I wyll yt he or they shall keep at Cambryge at scoole.
1601. Holland, Pliny, I. 127. Among the mountaines of this tract, the Pygmæans, by report do keepe.
1633. P. Fletcher, Purple Isl., V. xxv. Here stands the palace of the noblest sense; Here Visus keeps.
1719. in Willis & Clark, Cambridge (1886), II. 214. In ye Room where Mr Maynard keeps there was acted … a Pastoral.
1775. Abigail Adams, in J. Adams’ Fam. Lett. (1876), 128. I have … been upon a visit to Mrs. Morgan, who keeps at Major Mifflin’s.
1825. J. Neal, Bro. Jonathan, I. 255. A little ‘Virginny gal’ who was ‘keepin’ there.
1859. [J. Payn], Foster Brothers, xvii. 314. ‘Where does Mr. Hollis “keep“?’ inquired he of his bed-maker.
1883. Cambridge Staircase, viii. 137. Holtmore … keeps out of college.
1889. Boston (Mass.) Jrnl., 8 July, 3/3. Just where Mrs. Stevens kept in Boston is unknown to history.
38. To remain or stay for the time (in a particular place or spot).
1560. Daus, trans. Sleidane’s Comm., 214. The rest … were driven to kepe in caves and sellars under the earth.
1597. Morley, Introd. Mus., Pref. Being compelled to keepe at home.
Shaks., Ant. & Cl., III. vii. 75. Marcus Octauius, Marcus Iusteus, Publicola, and Celius, are for Sea: But we keepe whole by Land.
1719. De Foe, Crusoe, I. iv. We had kept on board. Ibid., xvi. I kept … within doors.
1863. Geo. Eliot, Romola, xxxv. He suggested that she should keep in her own room.
1890. W. Clark Russell, Ocean Trag., III. xxx. 136. I told him to keep where he was.
1891. F. W. Robinson, Her Love & His Life, III. VI. ii. 112. The wind kept in the proper quarter.
39. To remain or continue in a specified condition, state, position, etc.
a. With adverbial or prepositional phrases: see also branch IV.
1598. Shaks., Merry W., III. iii. 89. Keepe in that minde, Ile deserue it.
1660. F. Brooke, trans. Le Blanc’s Trav., 93. You must recede and keep at distance.
1670–98. Lassels, Voy. Italy, II. 234. We strangers … must keep out of their way, and stand a loof off.
1697. Dryden, Æneid, II. 988. Creusa kept behind.
1705. trans. Bosman’s Guinea, 114. If they have not hit the Buffel they sit still, and keep out of Danger.
1805. Nelson, 20 Oct., in Nicolas, Disp. (1846), VII. 136. To keep … in sight of the Enemy in the night.
1823. Douglas, or, Otterburn, II. viii. 102. Mervine kept by the side of his friend.
1883. Fenn, Middy & Ensign, xxviii. 171. The men kept in excellent health.
1890. T. F. Tout, Hist. Eng. from 1689, VIII. iv. 48. He kept in touch with public opinion.
b. with adj. (or equivalent substantive).
1590. Shaks., Com. Err., II. i. 26. This seruitude makes you to keepe vnwed.
c. 1600. Acc.-Bk. W. Wray, in Antiquary, XXXII. 80/2. This … will kepe but one yeare good.
1699. Dampier, Voy., II. I. iv. 47. When these hot Winds come, the better sort of People at Fort St. George keep close.
1814. Doyle, in W. J. Fitz-Patrick, Life (1880), I. 66. We were constantly making efforts to keep clear of them.
1825. New Monthly Mag., XV. 406. It will keep sweet a very long time.
1870. Lowell, Study Wind., 120. It is the part of a critic to keep cool under whatever circumstances.
1883. Fenn, Middy & Ensign, xiv. 78. We want to keep friends.
40. To continue, persevere, go on (in a specified course or action).
a. 1548. Hall, Chron., Edw. IV., 211 b. The Dukes messengers … durst not kepe on their iorney.
1568. Grafton, Chron., II. 91. He had such comfort of the king, as he kept on his purpose.
1593. Shaks., Rich. II., V. ii. 10. The Duke … With slow, but stately pace, kept on his course.
1709. Steele, Tatler, No. 48, ¶ 4. We kept on our Way after him till we came to Exchange-Alley.
1857. B. Taylor, North. Trav., 48. We kept down the left bank of the river for a little distance.
1889. W. Westall, Birch Dene, III. ii. 41. Turn to your left and keep straight on, and you’ll get to th’ far end afore ten o’clock.
1891. ‘H. S. Merriman,’ Prisoners & Captives, III. xiv. 235. After passing Spitzbergen they would keep to the north.
b. With pres. pple. as complement.
1794. Gifford, Baviad (1800), 27, note. Some contemptible vulgarity, such as ‘That’s your sort!’… ‘What’s to pay?’ ‘Keep moving,’ etc.
1806–7. J. Beresford, Miseries Hum. Life (1826), VI. Miseries Stage Coaches, iv. The Monster … keeps braying away.
1858. Hawthorne, Fr. & It. Jrnls., I. 124. Niagara … keeps pouring on forever and ever.
1890. T. F. Tout, Hist. Eng. from 1689, 134. He kept changing his plans.
1892. Temple Bar Mag., Feb., 198. She kept tumbling off her horse.
41. To remain in good condition; to last without spoiling. Also fig. to admit of being reserved for another occasion.
a. 1586. Sidney, Arcadia (1598), 76. Doth beauties keepe which never sunne can burne Nor stormes do turne!
1626. Bacon, Sylva, § 627. Grapes … it is reported … will keep better in a vessel half full of wine, so that the grapes touch not the wine.
1705. Lett., in Chr. Wordsworth, Scholæ Academ. (1877), 291. When he is to be buried I can’t tell, but they say he can’t keep long.
1719. De Foe, Crusoe, I. xii. I had no hops to make it keep.
1836. Gen. P. Thompson, Exerc. (1842), IV. 106. I will defer any observations … till my next. And there was nothing but what will keep.
1847. Marryat, Childr. N. Forest, v. He brought home more venison than would keep in the hot weather.
1889. Conan Doyle, Micah Clarke, xi. 92. Your story, however, can keep.
** With prepositions in specialized senses.
(Chiefly from 38, 39, 40.)
42. Keep at —. To work persistently at; to continue to occupy oneself with. Also to keep at it: see AT prep. 16 b.
1825. New Monthly Mag., XVI. 490. He should have kept at the law, he would have done for that.
1846. Jrnl. R. Agric. Soc., VII. I. 130. By keeping at it all day he is able to get over nearly 2 acres.
1890. Pictorial World, 9 Oct., 445/3. Who could keep at work on a morning like this?
1891. M. Douglas, in St. Nicholas Mag., 261.
| It would seem such vigor must soon abate; | |
| Boom—tidera-da—boom! | |
| But they still keep at it, early and late; | |
| Boom—tidera-da—boom! |
b. Hence humorous nonce-compounds.
1882. [Lees & Clutterbuck], Three in Norway, v. 38. In a nice keep-at-it-all-day-if-you-like kind of manner.
1895. Proc. 14th Conv. Amer. Instruct. Deaf, p. lxix. In school, and out of school,… at work or play; in short, by everlasting keep-at-it-iveness.
43. Keep from —. To abstain from; to remain absent or away from.
1513. More, in Grafton, Chron. (1568), II. 767. The prosperitie whereof … standeth … in keeping from enemies and evill dyet.
c. 1586. C’tess Pembroke, Ps. LXXIV. x. What is the cause … That thy right hand far from us keepes?
1590. Shaks., Com. Err., III. i. 18. You would keepe from my heeles, and beware of an asse.
1727. Gay, Beggar’s Op., I. viii. I shall soon know if you are married by Macheath’s keeping from our house.
b. To restrain or contain oneself from.
1877. Miss Yonge, Cameos, Ser. III. xiv. 125. Nor was Louis able to keep from turning pale.
1889. Conan Doyle, Micah Clarke, ii. 20. We could not keep from laughter. Ibid. (1890), in Lippincott’s Mag., Feb., 150–1. I could hardly keep from smiling at his crestfallen face.
44. Keep to —. a. To adhere to, stick to, abide by (a promise, agreement, etc.); to continue to maintain or observe. Also with indirect passive.
1625. Burges, Pers. Tithes, 24. He must keepe to his Rule, or hee damnably sinneth.
1697. Dampier, Voy. (1729), I. 518. Not finding the Governour keep to his agreement with me.
1779. Sheridan, Critic, I. i. If they had kept to that, I should not have been such an enemy to the stage.
1802. Mar. Edgeworth, Moral T. (1816), I. x. 85. I will keep to my resolution.
1825. New Monthly Mag., XV. 511/2. The author has kept very closely to the historical facts.
Mod. I hope the plan will be kept to.
b. To confine or restrict oneself to. To keep to oneself, also (colloq.) to keep oneself to oneself, to avoid the society of others.
1698. Fryer, Acc. E. India & P., 174. He is married to Four Wives, to whom he keeps religiously.
1711. Addison, Spect., No. 129, ¶ 1. Did they keep to one constant Dress they would sometimes be in the fashion.
1788. W. Blane, Hunt. Excurs., 17. They generally keep to the thick forests where it is impossible to follow them.
1826. Disraeli, Viv. Grey, V. xv. We had much better keep to the road.
1881. G. M. Craik (Mrs. May), Sydney, III. ii. 44. He had merely to keep to the sofa for two or three days.
1889. ‘J. Masterman,’ Scotts of Bestminster, I. iv. 142. Content with each other, they kept to themselves.
1891. Sat. Rev., 18 April, 483/1. She shall keep to her room and he will keep to his.
45. Keep with —. To remain or stay with; to associate or keep company with; to keep up with.
a. 1533. Ld. Berners, Huon, liv. 181. He may as sone go to your enemyes parte as to kepe with you.
1611. Shaks., Wint. T., I. ii. 344. Goe then; and … keepe with Bohemia, And with your Queene.
1817. W. Selwyn, Law Nisi Prius (ed. 4), II. 940. To keep with convoy during the whole voyage.
1891. Field, 19 Dec., 956/3. The very select few who were fortunate enough to keep with hounds.
IV. With adverbs.
46. Keep away. a. trans. To cause to remain absent or afar; to prevent from coming near.
a. 1548. Hall, Chron., Edw. IV., 211. Her frendes … said, that she was kept awaie … by Sorcerers and Necromanciers.
1591. Shaks., 1 Hen. VI., IV. iv. 22. Let not your priuate discord keepe away The leuied succours that should lend him ayde.
1872. Freeman, Europ. Hist., xvii. § 3. 352. The French frontier, which first reached the Rhine in 1648, is now kept quite away from it.
b. intr. To remain absent or at a distance; to hold one’s course at a distance; to move off.
1604. Shaks., Oth., III. iv. 173. What? keepe a weeke away? Seuen dayes, and Nights?
a. 1889. W. Collins, Blind Love (1890), III. liii. 130. I could not keep away from you.
c. Naut. trans. To cause to sail ‘off the wind’ or to leeward. intr. To sail off the wind or to leeward.
1805. Sir E. Berry, 13 Oct., in Nicolas, Disp. Nelson (1846), VII. 118, note. I was determined not to keep away, and I could not tack without the certainty of a broadside.
1867. Smyth, Sailor’s Word-bk., s.v., Keep her away, alter the ship’s course to leeward, by sailing further off the wind.
1875. Bedford, Sailor’s Pocket Bk., iv. (ed. 2), 127. If the vessel keeps away [from wind’s eye] 5 points, she must steam or sail at the rate of 72 knots, to be in an equally good position.
47. Keep back. a. trans. To restrain; to detain; to hold back forcibly; to retard the progress, advance or growth of.
1535. Coverdale, 2 Kings iv. 24. Dryue forth, and kepe me not bak with rydinge.
1560. Daus, trans. Sleidane’s Comm., 463 b. I have kept backe no man from the true Religion.
1678. Wanley, Wond. Lit. World, V. i. § 98. 468/1. He … strongly kept back the Turk from encroachments upon his Dominions.
1698. Fryer, Acc. E. India & P., 310. The Wheat stands, to endure a farther ripening, being kept back by the Chill Winds.
1848. Jrnl. R. Agric. Soc., IX. II. 556. Bine that has been kept back … by cold weather.
1890. G. M. Fenn, Double Knot, I. iv. 129. She made a brave effort to keep back her tears.
b. To withhold; to retain or reserve designedly; to conceal.
1535. Coverdale, Ps. xxxix. [xl.] 10. I kepe not thy louynge mercy … backe from the greate congregacion.
1583. Stubbes, Anat. Abus., II. (1882), 80. The church will keepe no part of the liuing backe from the pastor, if he doe his dutie.
1607–12. Bacon, Ess., Seeming Wise (Arb.), 216. Some are so close, and reserved, as they … seeme alwaies to keepe back somewhat.
1647. H. More, Song of Soul, II. i. II. vii. Long keppen back from your expecting sight.
1888. G. Gissing, Life’s Morn., II. xv. 302. It really seemed to me as if she were keeping something back.
c. intr. To hold oneself or remain back.
1837. Dickens, Pickw., iv. There was a request to ‘keep back’ from the front.
48. Keep down. a. trans. To hold down; to hold in subjection or under control; to repress.
1581. Pettie, trans. Guazzo’s Civ. Conv., I. (1586), 3 b. Sudden flames by force kept downe.
1607. Topsell, Four-f. Beasts (1658), 155. They keep them low and down by substraction of their meat.
1659. D. Pell, Impr. Sea, 38. You should … keep down your spirits both in this and other cases.
1722. De Foe, Col. Jack (1840), 67. Will kept the man down who was under him.
1849. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., i. I. 34. A hundred thousand soldiers … will keep down ten millions of ploughmen and artisans.
1889. Repentance P. Wentworth, III. xvi. 291. She had hard work to keep down her tears.
b. To keep low in amount or number; to prevent from growing, increasing or accumulating.
1818. Cruise, Digest (ed. 2), II. 201. The executors … ought to keep down the interest.
1840. Jrnl. R. Agric. Soc., I. III. 259. The Tartarian oats kept down the clover.
1851. Beck’s Florist, Jan., 21. Pick off decaying leaves, and keep down insects.
1869. W. Longman, Hist. Edw. III., I. xvi. 309. Employers … combined to keep down wages.
c. Painting. (See quot. 1854.)
1768. W. Gilpin, Prints, 210. The effect … might have been better, if all the lights upon it had been kept down.
1805. E. Dayes, Works, 290. Should the objects give a sufficient quantity of Light and Shade, the sky may be kept down.
1854. Fairholt, Dict. Terms Art, Kept down, subdued in tone or tint, so that that portion of the picture thus treated is rendered subordinate to some other part.
d. Printing. To set in lower-case type, as a word or letter; to use capitals somewhat sparingly.
1888. Jacobi, Printers’ Vocab.
e. intr. To remain low or subdued.
1889. Mary E. Carter, Mrs. Severn, III. III. ix. 219. Praying that the wind would keep down for a few hours.
49. Keep in. a. trans. To confine within; to hold in check; to restrain; not to utter or give vent to; spec. to confine in school after hours.
a. 1420. Hoccleve, De Reg. Princ., 1015. We … keepe muste our song and wordes in.
c. 1491. Chast. Goddes Chyld., 18. To kepe in his chyldern that they shold not sterte abrode fro the scole.
1601. Shaks., Twel. N., I. v. 209. It is more like to be feigned; I pray you keep it in.
1690. W. Walker, Idiomat. Anglo-Lat., 24. He is not able to keep in his anger.
1713. Addison, Cato, I. iv. Your zeal becomes importunate … but learn to keep it in.
1893. A. Lennox, in Pall Mall Mag., I. 28. He had been ‘kept in’ that afternoon, and his schoolmates had all gone half an hour before.
† b. To keep from public currency. Obs.
1573. Baret, Alv., K 25. To keepe in corne, to the end to make it deere.
1671. M. Bruce, Good News in Evil Times (1708), 68. Thanks be to him that hath ay keeped in our Black side yet, and hath not let the World see it yet.
c. To keep (a fire) burning: cf. IN adv. 6 g. Also intr. of a fire: To continue to burn.
1659. J. Arrowsmith, Chain Princ., 160. As culinary fire must be kindled and kept in by external materials.
1711, 1793. [see IN adv. 6 g].
1849. Jrnl. R. Agric. Soc., X. I. 149. The fire … keeps in well twelve hours.
1892. Review of Rev., 15 March, 299/1. The fire can be kept in all night.
d. Printing. To set type closely spaced.
1683. Moxon, Mech. Exerc., Printing, Dict., Keep in, is a caution either given to, or resolved on, by the Compositer, where there may be doubt of Driving out his Matter beyond his Counting off.
1888. Jacobi, Printers’ Vocab.
e. To keep one’s hand in: see HAND sb. 52.
f. intr. To remain indoors, or within a retreat, place, position, etc.
c. 1430. Syr Gener. (Roxb.), 711. Euermore she kept hir in.
1518. in W. H. Turner, Select. Rec. Oxford, 18. The inhabitants of thos howses that be … infectyd shall kepe in.
1652. Gaule, Magastrom., 250. It still keeps in (like an Owle) all the day time of Truth and Peace.
1850. F. T. Finch, in ‘Bat,’ Cricket Man., 95. Though for years we may keep in, we must at length go out.
g. To keep in line or in touch with.
1781. W. Blane, Ess. Hunting (1788), 35. I could never yet see any creature on two legs keep in with the Dogs.
h. To remain in favor or on good terms with. Cf. IN adv. 9 a. (Now colloq.)
1598. Grenewey, Tacitus, Ann., IV. v. (1622), 96. He kept in with Cæsar in no lesse fauour then authority.
1666. Pepys, Diary, 1 July. Though I do not love him, yet I find it necessary to keep in with him.
1720. Ozell, Vertot’s Rom. Rep., II. XIV. 333. Cæsar … resolved to keep in equally with the Senate and Antony.
1883. Black, Yolande, III. v. 86. He’s violent enough in the House; but that’s to keep in with his constituents.
50. Keep off. a. trans. To hinder from coming near or touching; to ward off; to avert.
a. 1548. Hall, Chron., Edw. IV., 233 b. Covered with bordes, onely to kepe of the wether.
1592. Shaks., Rom. & Jul., III. iii. 54. Ile giue thee Armour to keepe off that word.
1662. J. Davies, trans. Olearius’ Voy. Ambass., 24. Having white staves in their hands, to keep off the people.
1727. Gay, Begg. Op., I. viii. (1729), 11. O Polly … by keeping men off, you keep them on.
1883. Fenn, Middy & Ensign, xxii. 133. An umbrella held up to keep off the sun.
b. intr. To stay at a distance; to refrain from approaching; not to come on.
1591. Shaks., 1 Hen. VI., IV. iv. 21. You … Keepe off aloofe with worthlesse emulation.
1803. J. Hillyar, Aug., in Nicolas, Disp. Nelson (1845), II. 186, note. The Master … told the Boats to keep off.
1861. Dickens, Gt. Expect., xxxix. I … put him away. ‘Stay!’ said I. ‘Keep off!’
1891. Field, 7 Nov., 699/2. If the frost keeps off.
51. Keep on. a. trans. To maintain or retain in an existing condition or relation; to continue to hold, occupy, employ, entertain or display.
1669. R. Montagu, in Buccleuch MSS. (Hist. MSS. Comm.), I. 439. Till the end of the quarter … her family should be kept on.
1847. Jrnl. R. Agric. Soc., VIII. I. 10. If young, they are sometimes kept on for another season, and sent to fold.
1889. Adel. Sergeant, E. Denison, I. I. xi. 138. Bingley asked him awkwardly whether he meant to ‘keep on the house.’
1890. Mrs. H. Wood, House of Halliwell, II. viii. 213. Let me reproach him as I will, he keeps on that provoking meekness.
b. To keep (a fire, etc.) going continuously.
1891. Review of Rev., 15 Sept., 287/2. When a fire is needed to be kept on all night.
c. intr. To continue or persist in a course or action; to go on with something. Now freq. with pres. pple.
1589. Puttenham, Eng. Poesie, I. i. (Arb.), 83. In this maner doth the Greeke dactilus begin slowly and keepe on swifter till th’end.
1604. Shaks., Oth., III. iii. 455. The Ponticke Sea, Whose Icie Current … keepes due on To the Proponticke.
1724. De Foe, Mem. Cavalier (1840), 240. We kept on all night.
1856. Titan Mag., Dec., 516/1. ‘We shall never come across each other again,’ she kept on saying to herself.
1889. Conan Doyle, Micah Clarke, xxii. 224. Tell him also to strike quick, strike hard, and keep on striking.
† d. To keep the head covered. Obs.
1652–62. Heylin, Cosmogr., III. (1673), 133/2. They keep on of all sides … accounting it an opprobrious thing to see any men uncover their heads.
e. To remain fixed or attached; to stay on.
1892. Cassell’s Fam. Mag., July, 469/2. [His] buttons never keep on.
52. Keep out. a. trans. To cause to remain without; to prevent from getting in.
c. 1425. Lydg., Assembly of Gods, 770. [He] Wold kepe out that other he shuld nat esyly entre.
1560. Daus, trans. Sleidane’s Comm., 94. The Sea brake in over the walles, that we made to kepe it out.
1681. Flavel, Meth. Grace, xxxiv. 575. He teaches them how to paint the glass, that he may keep out the light.
1780. Coxe, Russ. Disc., 169. In order to keep out the rain.
1821. Clare, Vill. Minstr., I. 84. Locks … To keep out thieves at night.
1865. Dickens, Mut. Fr., I. i. Keep her [a boat] out, Lizzie. Tide runs strong here.
b. Printing. To set type widely spaced.
1683. Moxon, Mech. Exerc., Printing Dict., s.v., He Sets Wide, to Drive or Keep out.
1888. Jacobi, Printers’ Vocab.
53. Keep over. trans. To reserve, hold over.
1847. Jrnl. R. Agric. Soc., VIII. I. 6. Some breeders keep them [lambs] over until the next spring.
1893. Field, 4 March, 331/2. Keeping over old wheat stocks for a rise in price.
54. Keep to. Naut. trans. To cause (a ship) to sail close to the wind.
1692. Capt. Smith’s Seaman’s Gram., xvi. 76. In keeping the Ship near the Wind, these terms are used … keep her to, touch the Wind.
1706. Phillips, Keep your loof or Keep her to.
55. Keep together. a. trans. To cause to remain in association or union. To keep body († life) and soul together: to keep (oneself) alive.
1601. Shaks., Twel. N., III. i. 56. Clo. Would not a paire of these haue bred sir? Vio. Yes being kept together, and put to vse.
1693. Tate, in Dryden’s Juvenal, xv. (1697), 375. The Vascons once with Man’s Flesh (as ’tis sed) Kept Life and Soul together.
1841. Jrnl. R. Agric. Soc., II. I. 43. It is a poor loose sand … only kept together by the roots of the sea-bent.
1884. T. A. Janvier, in Century Mag., Nov., 54/2. How on earth they managed to keep body and soul together.
b. intr. To remain associated or united.
1560. Daus, trans. Sleidane’s Comm., 435. Let them … kepe together, and in no wise scatter abrode.
1599. Shaks., Hen. V., II. ii. 105. Treason, and murther, euer kept together.
1768. J. Byron, Narr. Patagonia (ed. 2), 13. It did not become him to desert it as long as the ship kept together.
1820. W. Irving, Sketch Bk. (1859), 181. I have a particular respect for three or four … chairs … which seem to me to keep together.
56. Keep under. trans. To hold in subjection or under control; to keep down.
1486–1504. Quinton MSS., in Denton, Eng. in 15th cent., Note D. (1888), 318. For mane men wyll ley owt more to kepe vnder the pore th(en) for to helpe thaym.
1579. Gosson, Sch. Abuse (Arb.), 37. Giue them a bitte to keepe them vnder.
1611. Bible, 1 Cor. ix. 27. But I keepe vnder my body, and bring it into subiection: lest that by any meanes when I haue preached to others, I my selfe should be a castaway.
1712. Berkeley, Pass. Obed., § 13. Like all other passions, [they] must be restrained and kept under.
1843. Jrnl. R. Agric. Soc., IV. I. 116. The services of birds in keeping under noxious insects.
1889. ‘J. Masterman,’ Scotts of Bestminster, II. ix. 115. She had been accustomed to be kept under all her life.
57. Keep up. a. trans. To keep shut up or confined.
1604. Shaks., Oth., I. ii. 59. Keepe vp your bright Swords, for the dew will rust them.
1654. in Picton, L’pool Munic. Rec. (1883), I. 191. Swyne … ought to bee kept up in their styes.
1673. Wycherley, Gentl. Dancing-Master, II. i. 21. Have you kept up my Daughter close in my absence?
1737. Whiston, Josephus, Antiq., IV. viii. § 36. If his owner … having known what his nature was … hath not kept him [an ox] up.
1847. Jrnl. R. Agric. Soc., VIII. I. 31. When sheep are kept up in sheds during the winter.
† b. To keep secret or undivulged. Obs.
1678. Cudworth, Intell. Syst., I. iii. § 38. 177. So long as these things are concealed and kept up in Huggermugger.
a. 1715. Burnet, Own Time (1823), II. 115. They … had not sailed when the proclamation came down: yet it was kept up till they sailed away.
1725. Ramsay, Gentle Sheph., II. iii. What fowk say of me, Bauldy, let me hear; Keep naithing up.
c. To support, sustain; to prevent from sinking or falling. Also intr. To bear up, so as not to break down.
To keep the ball up (see BALL sb.1 18). To keep one’s wicket up (cricket): to remain in, to continue one’s innings.
1681. Flavel, Meth. Grace, ix. 190. Of great use to keep up the soul above water.
1694. F. Bragge, Disc. Parables, xiii. 425. To keep up their spirits.
1801. H. Swinburne, in Crts. Europe close last Cent. (1841), II. 299. This ridiculous folly keeps the stocks up.
1868. Rogers, Pol. Econ., ix. (1876), 88. The purpose of a trades-union is to keep up the price of labour.
1884. Lillywhite’s Cricket Ann., 60. He kept up his wicket until the finish.
1889. ‘J. Masterman,’ Scotts of Bestminster, II. xii. 262. But for her sweetness and bravery, I never could have kept up through all this terrible trial.
d. To maintain in a worthy or effective condition; to support; to keep in repair; to keep burning.
1552. Huloet, Kepe vp by cheryshinge, alo, foveo. Kepe vp by maintenaunce, sustento.
1670. Sir S. Crow, in 12th Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm., App. V. 15. Findeing that busines … a burden … to keepe it upp in that perfection I found and made itt.
1678. Lady Chaworth, Ibid. 51. The King had a mind … to keep up his army and navy till that peace was made.
1701. W. Wotton, Hist. Rome, Marcus, vi. 106. The Athenians still kept up regular Professors for all those Sciences.
1840. R. H. Dana, Bef. Mast, xxvi. 86. We kept up a small fire, by which we cooked our mussels.
1875. Freeman, Norm. Conq., III. xii. 173. A causeway which is still in being and which is kept up as a modern road.
e. To maintain, retain, preserve (a quality, state of things, accomplishment, etc.); to keep from deteriorating or disappearing.
1670. A. Roberts, Adventures T. S., 51. Orders of Men … that keep up the Honour of Religion amongst them.
1705. Addison, Italy, Wks. II. 132. Albano keeps up its credit still for Wine.
1791. Gentl. Mag., 20/2. The clergy would, from the calls of their profession … keep up their classical acquirements.
1836. Jas. Grant, Gt. Metropolis, I. ii. 44. They must maintain their dignity; they must keep up appearances.
1884. Mrs. C. L. Pirkis, Judith Wynne, I. v. 48. Oughtn’t she to have a horse, and keep up her riding?
f. To maintain, continue, go on with (an action or course of action).
1513. More, in Grafton, Chron. (1568), II. 778. For his dissimulation onely kept all that mischiefe up.
1711. Steele, Spect., No. 51, ¶ 2. The Difficulty of keeping up a sprightly Dialogue for five Acts together.
1781. Hist. Eur., in Ann. Reg., 16/1. Continual firing … was kept up during the day.
1869. Freeman, Norm. Conq., III. xiv. 367. The fight is kept up till night-fall.
1890. J. Hawthorne, in Lippincott’s Mag., Jan., 11. He and I have kept up a correspondence.
g. To cause to remain out of bed.
1766. Goldsm., Vic. W., ix. Well pleased, that my little ones were kept up beyond the usual time.
1839. Thackeray, Fatal Boots, xii. Keeping her up till four o’clock in the morning.
1889. Adel. Sergeant, Luck of House, II. xxxvi. 228. I will keep you up no longer, for you look terribly pale and fagged.
h. Printing. To keep (type or matter) standing; also, to use capitals somewhat freely.
1888. Jacobi, Printers’ Vocab.
i. To keep up to: to prevent from falling below (a level, standard, principle, etc.); to keep informed of. Also intr. for refl.
1712. Steele, Spect., No. 308, ¶ 2. My Lady’s whole Time and Thoughts are spent in keeping up to the Mode.
1726. Leoni, Alberti’s Archit., I. 46/1. This Strength in the Corners is … only to keep the Wall up to its duty.
1841. Jrnl. R. Agric. Soc., II. I. 144. It keeps him better up to his work.
1889. ‘J. Masterman,’ Scotts of Bestminster, III. xv. 41. A London correspondent who kept the country-folk up to the doings of the towns-folk.
1890. ‘Lucas Malet,’ in Univ. Rev., Aug., 633. We should keep up to the mark in these matters.
j. intr. To continue alongside, keep abreast; to proceed at an equal pace with (lit. and fig.).
a. 1633. G. Herbert, Country Parson, ii. (1652), 5. They are not to be over-submissive and base, but to keep up with the Lord and Lady of the house.
1706. [E. Ward], Wooden World Dissected (1708), 35. He tries every Way … to keep up with his Leader.
1890. W. F. Rae, Maygrove, II. vii. 272. Don’t walk so fast … I can hardly keep up with you.
† k. To stay within doors; to put up or stop at.
1704. D’chess Marlborough, in Buccleuch MSS. (Hist. MSS. Comm.), I. 353. I am very sorry to hear Lord Monthermont has had any accident to make him keep up.
1768. Sterne, Sent. Journ. (1778), II. 195. (Case Delicacy) The Voiturin found himself obliged to keep up five miles short of his stage at a little decent kind of an inn.
V. 58. Combs., as † keep-door (nonce-wd.), a porter, door-ward; † keep-friend (see quot.); † keep-net, ? a net for keeping fish in; † keep-off, a means of keeping (persons, etc.) off; also as adj., serving to keep (foes) off. Also KEEPSAKE.
1682. Mrs. Behn, City Heiress, 45. Good Mistriss *keep-door, stand by; for I must enter.
1675. Hist. Don Quix., 45. He had besides two iron rings about his neck, the one of the chain, and the other of that kind which are called A *keep-friend, or the foot of a friend; from whence descended two irons unto his middle.
1623. Whitbourne, Newfoundland, 75. Ten *keipnet Irons … Twine to make Keipnets, &c.
c. 1611. Chapman, Iliad, VII. 121. He fought not with a *keep-off spear, or with a far-shot bow. Ibid. (1615), Odyss., XIV. 759. A lance … To be his keep-off both ’gainst men and dogs.
