[Origin: bef. 1000; ME kepen, OE cépan to observe, heed, watch, await, take; perh. akin to OE gecōp proper, fitting, capian to look, ON kōpa to stare]
—Related forms
keep·a·ble, adjective
keep·a·bil·i·ty, noun
—Synonyms 1.Keep,reserve,retain,withhold refer to having and holding in possession. Keep (a common word) and retain (a more formal one) agree in meaning to continue to have or hold, as opposed to losing, parting with, or giving up: to keep a book for a week. To reserve is to keep for some future use, occasion, or recipient, or to hold back for a time: to reserve judgment. To withhold is generally to hold back altogether: to withhold help. 6. preserve. 8. detain, confine. 41. donjon, dungeon, stronghold.
To retain possession of: kept the change; must keep your composure.
To have as a supply: keep an ax in the shed.
To provide (a family, for example) with maintenance and support: "There's little to earn and many to keep"(Charles Kingsley).
To support (a mistress or lover) financially.
To supply with room and board for a charge: keep boarders.
To raise: keep chickens.
To maintain records in: keep a yearly diary.
To enter (data) in a book: keep financial records.
To detain: was kept after school.
To restrain: kept the child away from the stove; kept the crowd back with barriers.
To prevent or deter: tried to keep the ice from melting.
To refrain from divulging: keep a secret.
To save; reserve: keep extra money for emergencies.
To put customarily; store: Where do you keep your saw?
To supply with room and board for a charge: keep boarders.
To raise: keep chickens.
To maintain records in: keep a yearly diary.
To enter (data) in a book: keep financial records.
To detain: was kept after school.
To restrain: kept the child away from the stove; kept the crowd back with barriers.
To prevent or deter: tried to keep the ice from melting.
To refrain from divulging: keep a secret.
To save; reserve: keep extra money for emergencies.
To maintain for use or service: an urbanite who didn't keep a car.
To manage, tend, or have charge of: Keep the shop while I'm away.
To preserve (food).
To cause to continue in a state, condition, or course of action: tried to keep the patient calm.
To maintain records in: keep a yearly diary.
To enter (data) in a book: keep financial records.
To detain: was kept after school.
To restrain: kept the child away from the stove; kept the crowd back with barriers.
To prevent or deter: tried to keep the ice from melting.
To refrain from divulging: keep a secret.
To save; reserve: keep extra money for emergencies.
To detain: was kept after school.
To restrain: kept the child away from the stove; kept the crowd back with barriers.
To prevent or deter: tried to keep the ice from melting.
To refrain from divulging: keep a secret.
To save; reserve: keep extra money for emergencies.
To adhere or conform to; follow: keep late hours.
To be faithful to; fulfill: keep one's word.
To celebrate; observe.
v.
intr.
To remain in a state or condition; stay: keep in line; keep quiet; kept well.
To continue to do: keep on talking; keep guessing.
To remain fresh or unspoiled: The dessert won't keep.
To restrain oneself; hold oneself back: I couldn't keep from eavesdropping.
n.
Care; charge: The child is in my keep for the day.
The means by which one is supported: earn one's keep.
The stronghold of a castle.
A jail.
To persevere in; carry on: We asked her to stop talking, but she kept it up.
To preserve or sustain: kept up the appearance of friendship.
To prevent from growing, accomplishing, or succeeding: keep the revolutionaries down.
To hold under control or at a reduced level: Keep your voice down.
To refrain from vomiting: Although seasick, I managed to keep my food down.
To maintain in good condition: kept up the property.
To persevere in; carry on: We asked her to stop talking, but she kept it up.
To preserve or sustain: kept up the appearance of friendship.
To continue at the same level or pace: The snow kept up all day.
To continue to pay off (a financial obligation).
To match one's competitors, colleagues, or neighbors in success or lifestyle: couldn't keep up with his friends who went into business.
To remain adequately informed: loved to keep up on the gossip.
Phrasal Verb(s): keep at
To persevere in work or an action.
keep down
To prevent from growing, accomplishing, or succeeding: keep the revolutionaries down.
To hold under control or at a reduced level: Keep your voice down.
To refrain from vomiting: Although seasick, I managed to keep my food down.
keep off
To stay away from.
keep to
To adhere to: keep to the original purpose. keep up
To maintain in good condition: kept up the property.
To persevere in; carry on: We asked her to stop talking, but she kept it up.
To preserve or sustain: kept up the appearance of friendship.
To continue at the same level or pace: The snow kept up all day.
To continue to pay off (a financial obligation).
To match one's competitors, colleagues, or neighbors in success or lifestyle: couldn't keep up with his friends who went into business.
To remain adequately informed: loved to keep up on the gossip.
Idiom(s):
for keeps
For an indefinitely long period: gave the ring to me for keeps.
Seriously and permanently: We're separating for keeps.
Idiom(s):
keep an eye on
To watch over attentively; mind.
To watch closely or carefully: keep your eye on the ball.
Idiom(s):
keep an eye out
To be watchful.
Idiom(s):
keep a stiff upper lip
To be courageous or stoic in the face of adversity.
Idiom(s):
keep company
To carry on a courtship: a couple who kept company but never married.
To socialize or associate: keeps company with some tough thugs.
Idiom(s):
keep (one's) chin up
To be stalwart, courageous, or optimistic in the face of difficulty.
Idiom(s):
keep (one's) eyes open/peeled
To be on the lookout.
Idiom(s):
keep (one's) nose clean Informal
To stay out of trouble.
Idiom(s):
keep pace
To stay even with others, as in a contest.
Idiom(s):
keep (someone) company
To accompany or remain with.
Idiom(s):
keep the wolf from the door
To avoid the privation and suffering resulting from a lack of money: Both spouses had to work in order to keep the wolf from the door.
Idiom(s):
keep time
To indicate the correct time.
Music To maintain the tempo or rhythm.
Idiom(s):
keep to (oneself)
To shun the company of others: She kept to herself all morning.
To refrain from divulging: He kept the news to himself.
[Middle English kepen, from Old English cēpan, to observe, seize.]
Synonyms: These verbs mean to have and maintain in one's possession or control. Keep is the most general: We received a few offers but decided to keep the house. Retain means to continue to hold, especially in the face of possible loss: Though unhappy, he retained his sense of humor. Withhold implies reluctance or refusal to give, grant, or allow: The tenant withheld his rent until the owner fixed the boiler.
To reserve is to hold back for the future or for a special purpose: The farmer reserved two acres for an orchard. See Also Synonyms at observe.
late O.E. cepan "to seize, hold," also "to observe," from P.Gmc. *kopijanan, but with no certain connection to other languages. It possibly is related to O.E. capian "to look," from P.Gmc. *kap- (cepan was used c.1000 to render L. observare), which would make the basic sense "to keep an eye on."
"The word prob. belongs primarily to the vulgar and non-literary stratum of the language; but it comes up suddenly into literary use c.1000, and that in many senses, indicating considerable previous development." [OED]
Meaning "financially support and privately control" (usually in ref. to mistresses) is from 1560. The noun meaning "innermost stronghold of a tower" is from 1586, perhaps a translation of It. tenazza, with a notion of "that which keeps" (someone or something); the sense of "food required to keep a person or animal" is attested from 1801. Keepsake is first recorded 1790, on model of namesake; thus an object kept for the sake of the giver. For keeps "completely, for good" is Amer.Eng. colloquial, from 1861. Keeper "one who has charge of some person or thing, warden" is from c.1300; sense of "one who carries on some business" is from c.1440.
the financial means whereby one lives; "each child was expected to pay for their keep"; "he applied to the state for support"; "he could no longer earn his own livelihood" [syn: support]
2.
the main tower within the walls of a medieval castle or fortress
keep in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., "keep clean"; "hold in place"; "She always held herself as a lady"; "The students keep me on my toes"
2.
continue a certain state, condition, or activity; "Keep on working!"; "We continued to work into the night"; "Keep smiling"; "We went on working until well past midnight" [syn: continue] [ant: discontinue]
3.
retain possession of; "Can I keep my old stuffed animals?"; "She kept her maiden name after she married" [ant: lose]
4.
stop (someone or something) from doing something or being in a certain state; "We must prevent the cancer from spreading"; "His snoring kept me from falling asleep"; "Keep the child from eating the marbles" [syn: prevent] [ant: allow]
5.
conform one's action or practice to; "keep appointments"; "she never keeps her promises"; "We kept to the original conditions of the contract" [syn: observe] [ant: breach]
6.
stick to correctly or closely; "The pianist kept time with the metronome"; "keep count"; "I cannot keep track of all my employees" [syn: observe]
7.
look after; be the keeper of; have charge of; "He keeps the shop when I am gone"
8.
maintain by writing regular records; "keep a diary"; "maintain a record"; "keep notes"
9.
supply with room and board; "He is keeping three women in the guest cottage"; "keep boarders"
10.
allow to remain in a place or position or maintain a property or feature; "We cannot continue several servants any longer"; "She retains a lawyer"; "The family's fortune waned and they could not keep their household staff"; "Our grant has run out and we cannot keep you on"; "We kept the work going as long as we could"; "She retained her composure"; "this garment retains its shape even after many washings" [syn: retain]
11.
supply with necessities and support; "She alone sustained her family"; "The money will sustain our good cause"; "There's little to earn and many to keep" [syn: sustain]
12.
fail to spoil or rot; "These potatoes keep for a long time"
13.
behave as expected during of holidays or rites; "Keep the commandments"; "celebrate Christmas"; "Observe Yom Kippur" [syn: observe]
14.
keep under control; keep in check; "suppress a smile"; "Keep your temper"; "keep your cool" [syn: restrain]
15.
maintain in safety from injury, harm, or danger; "May God keep you"
16.
raise; "She keeps a few chickens in the yard"; "he keeps bees"
17.
retain rights to; "keep my job for me while I give birth"; "keep my seat, please"; "keep open the possibility of a merger" [syn: keep open]
18.
store or keep customarily; "Where do you keep your gardening tools?"
19.
have as a supply; "I always keep batteries in the freezer"; "keep food for a week in the pantry"; "She keeps a sixpack and a week's worth of supplies in the refrigerator"
20.
maintain for use and service; "I keep a car in the countryside"; "She keeps an apartment in Paris for her shopping trips"
21.
hold and prevent from leaving; "The student was kept after school"
to have for a very long or indefinite period of time Example: He gave me the picture to keep.
Arabic:
يُحافِظ على، يَحْفَظ
Chinese (Simplified):
保存
Chinese (Traditional):
保存
Czech:
uchovat, vlastnit
Danish:
beholde
Dutch:
houden
Estonian:
hoidma
Finnish:
pitää
French:
garder
German:
behalten
Greek:
κρατώ, φυλάγω
Hungarian:
őriz
Icelandic:
geyma, varðveita; fá til eignar
Indonesian:
memiliki
Italian:
tenere
Japanese:
持ち続ける
Korean:
계속 지니다
Latvian:
turēt
Lithuanian:
laikyti
Norwegian:
beholde, gjemme
Polish:
trzymać, mieć w posiadaniu
Portuguese (Brazil):
guardar
Portuguese (Portugal):
guardar
Romanian:
a păstra
Russian:
хранить
Slovak:
uchovať
Slovenian:
obdržati
Spanish:
guardar
Swedish:
behålla
Turkish:
saklamak, elinde tutmak
keep2[kiːp]verb
not to give or throw away; to preserve Example: I kept the most interesting books; Can you keep a secret?
Arabic:
يَحْتَفِظ ب
Chinese (Simplified):
保留
Chinese (Traditional):
保留
Czech:
ponechat si; udržet
Danish:
beholde; bevare; holde på
Dutch:
bewaren
Estonian:
säilitama
Finnish:
säilyttää
French:
conserver, garder
German:
behalten
Greek:
κρατώ, δε δίνω
Hungarian:
megtart
Icelandic:
geyma, varðveita; þegja yfir
Indonesian:
menyimpan
Italian:
tenere, mantenere
Japanese:
保存する
Korean:
가지고 있다, 간직하다
Latvian:
glabāt
Lithuanian:
išlaikyti
Norwegian:
beholde, holde på, (opp)bevare
Polish:
zatrzymać
Portuguese (Brazil):
guardar, conservar
Portuguese (Portugal):
guardar
Romanian:
a păstra
Russian:
сохранять
Slovak:
ponechať si; zachovať
Slovenian:
obdržati (zase)
Spanish:
guardar
Swedish:
behålla, bevara
Turkish:
saklamak, atmamak
keep3[kiːp]verb
to (cause to) remain in a certain state or position Example: I keep this gun loaded; How do you keep cool in this heat?; Will you keep me informed of what happens?
Arabic:
يُبْقي، يَبْقى
Chinese (Simplified):
保持
Chinese (Traditional):
保持
Czech:
udržovat
Danish:
holde
Dutch:
houden
Estonian:
hoidma, pidama
Finnish:
pitää
French:
garder, tenir
Greek:
κρατώ, διατηρώ σε μια κατάσταση, τηρώ
Hungarian:
tart
Icelandic:
halda, hafa
Indonesian:
menjaga
Italian:
tenere, mantenere
Japanese:
～にしておく
Korean:
유지하다
Latvian:
glabāt; noturēt
Lithuanian:
išlaikyti
Norwegian:
holde (seg), forholde seg
Polish:
utrzymywać
Portuguese (Brazil):
manter(-se)
Portuguese (Portugal):
manter
Romanian:
a ţine, a păstra
Russian:
держать(ся) в каком-л. состоянии
Slovak:
udržiavať
Slovenian:
imeti, (vz)držati
Spanish:
mantener, conservar
Swedish:
ha, hålla
Turkish:
kalmak, tutmak, sürdürmek
keep4[kiːp]verb
to go on (performing or repeating a certain action) Example: He kept walking.
Arabic:
يَسْتَمِر
Chinese (Simplified):
继续
Chinese (Traditional):
繼續
Czech:
pokračovat v
Danish:
blive ved
Dutch:
doorgaan met
Estonian:
jätkama
Finnish:
jatkaa
French:
continuer à
German:
weiter-
Greek:
συνεχίζω
Hungarian:
folytat, tovább (tett vmit)
Icelandic:
halda áfram
Indonesian:
terus
Italian:
continuare a*
Japanese:
続けて～する
Korean:
계속 …하다
Latvian:
turpināt (kaut ko darīt)
Lithuanian:
toliau (ką daryti), tebe-
Norwegian:
fortsette å, holde fram med
Polish:
wciąż (coś robić), nie przestawać
Portuguese (Brazil):
prosseguir
Portuguese (Portugal):
continuar a
Romanian:
a continua să
Russian:
продолжать
Slovak:
pokračovať v
Slovenian:
nadaljevati
Spanish:
continuar, seguir
Swedish:
fortsätta
Turkish:
yapmaya devam etmek
keep5[kiːp]verb
to have in store Example: I always keep a tin of baked beans for emergencies.
Arabic:
يَحْتَفِظ ب
Chinese (Simplified):
备有（商品）
Chinese (Traditional):
備有（商品）
Czech:
mít v zásobě
Danish:
have
Dutch:
in voorraad hebben
Estonian:
hoidma
Finnish:
pitää varastossa
French:
garder
German:
aufbewahren
Greek:
κρατώ, διατηρώ
Hungarian:
tart (raktáron)
Icelandic:
eiga, vera með
Indonesian:
menyimpan
Italian:
tenere
Japanese:
とっておく
Korean:
비치해 두다, (가게에서 물건을) 취급하다
Latvian:
paglabāt; turēt (krājumā)
Lithuanian:
laikyti, turėti
Norwegian:
ha i beredskap
Polish:
mieć (w zapasie)
Portuguese (Brazil):
guardar
Portuguese (Portugal):
guardar
Romanian:
a păstra
Russian:
иметь в запасе
Slovak:
mať na sklade
Slovenian:
imeti na zalogi
Spanish:
guardar
Swedish:
ha, förvara
Turkish:
saklamak, bulundurmak
keep6[kiːp]verb
to look after or care for Example: She keeps the garden beautifully; I think they keep hens.
Arabic:
يَعْتَني ب
Chinese (Simplified):
料理
Chinese (Traditional):
料理
Czech:
udržovat; chovat
Danish:
holde
Dutch:
houden
Estonian:
pidama
Finnish:
hoitaa
French:
entretenir
German:
halten
Greek:
φροντίζω, διατηρώ
Hungarian:
gondoz; tart
Icelandic:
rækta, halda við
Indonesian:
memelihara
Italian:
tenere
Japanese:
世話をする
Korean:
돌보다
Latvian:
turēt
Lithuanian:
laikyti, prižiūrėti
Norwegian:
holde, ta vare på
Polish:
utrzymywać
Portuguese (Brazil):
manter
Portuguese (Portugal):
cuidar
Romanian:
a avea grijă de
Russian:
содержать
Slovak:
udržiavať; chovať
Slovenian:
skrbeti za, rediti
Spanish:
tener; cuidar (un jardín); criar, dedicarse a criar (animales)
Swedish:
hålla, ha
Turkish:
bakmak, tutmak
keep7[kiːp]verb
to remain in good condition Example: That meat won't keep in this heat unless you put it in the fridge.
Arabic:
يَبْقى في حالةٍ جيِّدَه
Chinese (Simplified):
（食物等）保持不坏
Chinese (Traditional):
（食物等）保持不坏
Czech:
vydržet (čerstvý)
Danish:
holde sig
Dutch:
goed blijven
Estonian:
säilima
Finnish:
säilyä
French:
se conserver, (se) garder
German:
sich halten
Greek:
διατηρούμαι σε καλή κατάσταση
Hungarian:
nem romlik meg
Icelandic:
geymast
Indonesian:
bertahan
Italian:
mantenersi, conservarsi
Japanese:
もつ
Korean:
오래가다
Latvian:
(par pārtiku) saglabāties (svaigam)
Lithuanian:
išsilaikyti
Norwegian:
holde seg
Polish:
zachowywać swieżość
Portuguese (Brazil):
conservar(-se)
Portuguese (Portugal):
conservar
Romanian:
a se conserva, a se păstra
Russian:
сохраняться
Slovak:
vydržať, ostať (čerstvý), nepokaziť sa
Slovenian:
držati se
Spanish:
conservar
Swedish:
stå sig, hålla sig
Turkish:
taze kalmak, dayanmak
keep8[kiːp]verb
to make entries in (a diary, accounts etc) Example: She keeps a diary to remind her of her appointments; He kept the accounts for the club.
Com"pa*ny\, n.; pl. Companies. [F. compagnie, fr. OF. compaing. See Companion.]1. The state of being a companion or companions; the act of accompanying; fellowship; companionship; society; friendly intercourse. --Shak. Evil company doth corrupt good manners. --1 Cor. xv. 33. (Rev. Ver.). Brethren, farewell: your company along I will not wish. --Milton. 2. A companion or companions. To thee and thy company I bid A hearty welcome. --Shak. 3. An assemblage or association of persons, either permanent or transient. Thou shalt meet a company of prophets. --1 Sam. x. 5. 4. Guests or visitors, in distinction from the members of a family; as, to invite company to dine. 5. Society, in general; people assembled for social intercourse. Nature has left every man a capacity of being agreeable, though not of shining in company. --Swift. 6. An association of persons for the purpose of carrying on some enterprise or business; a corporation; a firm; as, the East India Company; an insurance company; a joint-stock company. 7. Partners in a firm whose names are not mentioned in its style or title; -- often abbreviated in writing; as, Hottinguer & Co. 8. (Mil.) A subdivision of a regiment of troops under the command of a captain, numbering in the United States (full strength) 100 men. 9. (Naut.) The crew of a ship, including the officers; as, a whole ship's company. 10. The body of actors employed in a theater or in the production of a play. To keep company with. See under Keep, v. t. Syn: Assemblage; assembly; society; group; circle; crowd; troop; crew; gang; corporation; association; fraternity; guild; partnership; copartnery; union; club; party; gathering.
In\, prep. [AS. in; akin to D. & G. in, Icel. [=i], Sw. & Dan. i, OIr. & L. in, Gr. 'en. [root]197. Cf. 1st In-, Inn.] The specific signification of in is situation or place with respect to surrounding, environment, encompassment, etc. It is used with verbs signifying being, resting, or moving within limits, or within circumstances or conditions of any kind conceived of as limiting, confining, or investing, either wholly or in part. In its different applications, it approaches some of the meanings of, and sometimes is interchangeable with, within, into, on, at, of, and among. It is used: 1. With reference to space or place; as, he lives in Boston; he traveled in Italy; castles in the air. The babe lying in a manger. --Luke ii. 16. Thy sun sets weeping in the lowly west. --Shak. Situated in the forty-first degree of latitude. --Gibbon. Matter for censure in every page. --Macaulay. 2. With reference to circumstances or conditions; as, he is in difficulties; she stood in a blaze of light. "Fettered in amorous chains." --Shak. Wrapt in sweet sounds, as in bright veils. --Shelley. 3. With reference to a whole which includes or comprises the part spoken of; as, the first in his family; the first regiment in the army. Nine in ten of those who enter the ministry. --Swift. 4. With reference to physical surrounding, personal states, etc., abstractly denoted; as, I am in doubt; the room is in darkness; to live in fear. When shall we three meet again, In thunder, lightning, or in rain? --Shak. 5. With reference to character, reach, scope, or influence considered as establishing a limitation; as, to be in one's favor. "In sight of God's high throne." --Milton. Sounds inharmonious in themselves, and harsh. --Cowper. 6. With reference to movement or tendency toward a certain limit or environment; -- sometimes equivalent to into; as, to put seed in the ground; to fall in love; to end in death; to put our trust in God. He would not plunge his brother in despair. --Addison. She had no jewels to deposit in their caskets. --Fielding. 7. With reference to a limit of time; as, in an hour; it happened in the last century; in all my life. In as much as, or Inasmuch as, in the degree that; in like manner as; in consideration that; because that; since. See Synonym of Because, and cf. For as much as, under For, prep. In that, because; for the reason that. "Some things they do in that they are men . . .; some things in that they are men misled and blinded with error." --Hooker. In the name of, in behalf of; on the part of; by authority; as, it was done in the name of the people; -- often used in invocation, swearing, praying, and the like. To be in for it. (a) To be in favor of a thing; to be committed to a course. (b) To be unable to escape from a danger, penalty, etc. [Colloq.] To be (or keep) in with. (a) To be close or near; as, to keep a ship in with the land. (b) To be on terms of friendship, familiarity, or intimacy with; to secure and retain the favor of. [Colloq.] Syn: Into; within; on; at. See At.
Keep\ (k[=e]p), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Kept; p. pr. & vb. n. Keeping.] [OE. k?pen, AS. c?pan to keep, regard, desire, await, take, betake; cf. AS. copenere lover, OE. copnien to desire.]1. To care; to desire. [Obs.] I kepe not of armes for to yelp [boast]. --Chaucer. 2. To hold; to restrain from departure or removal; not to let go of; to retain in one's power or possession; not to lose; to retain; to detain. If we lose the field, We can not keep the town. --Shak. That I may know what keeps me here with you. --Dryden. If we would weigh and keep in our minds what we are considering, that would instruct us. --Locke. 3. To cause to remain in a given situation or condition; to maintain unchanged; to hold or preserve in any state or tenor. His loyalty he kept, his love, his zeal. --Milton. Keep a stiff rein, and move but gently on. --Addison. Note: In this sense it is often used with prepositions and adverbs, as to keep away, to keep down, to keep from, to keep in, out, or off, etc. "To keep off impertinence and solicitation from his superior." --Addison. 4. To have in custody; to have in some place for preservation; to take charge of. The crown of Stephanus, first king of Hungary, was always kept in the castle of Vicegrade. --Knolles. 5. To preserve from danger, harm, or loss; to guard. Behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee. --Gen. xxviii. 15. 6. To preserve from discovery or publicity; not to communicate, reveal, or betray, as a secret. Great are thy virtues . . . though kept from man. --Milton. 7. To attend upon; to have the care of; to tend. And the Lord God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden, to dress it and to keep it. --Gen. ii. 15. In her girlish age, she kept sheep on the moor. --Carew. 8. To record transactions, accounts, or events in; as, to keep books, a journal, etc.; also, to enter (as accounts, records, etc. ) in a book. 9. To maintain, as an establishment, institution, or the like; to conduct; to manage; as, to keep store. Like a pedant that keeps a school. --Shak. Every one of them kept house by himself. --Hayward. 10. To supply with necessaries of life; to entertain; as, to keep boarders. 11. To have in one's service; to have and maintain, as an assistant, a servant, a mistress, a horse, etc. I keep but three men and a boy. --Shak. 12. To have habitually in stock for sale. 13. To continue in, as a course or mode of action; not to intermit or fall from; to hold to; to maintain; as, to keep silence; to keep one's word; to keep possession. Both day and night did we keep company. --Shak. Within this portal as I kept my watch. --Smollett. 14. To observe; to adhere to; to fulfill; not to swerve from or violate; to practice or perform, as duty; not to neglect; to be faithful to. I have kept the faith. --2 Tim. iv. 7. Him whom to love is to obey, and keep His great command. --Milton. 15. To confine one's self to; not to quit; to remain in; as, to keep one's house, room, bed, etc.; hence, to haunt; to frequent. --Shak.
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