keep back

Two personalities fought for possession of his soul, and he could not always keep back the lower of the two.

He sat and held her hands, and saw her bite her lips and fight to keep back the tears in her eyes.

If it were the last words she had to speak, she said afterwards, he was striving to keep back a fit of laughing.

On arriving at the inn, the commissary caused the door of the court-yard to be closed, in order to keep back the people.

She turned, and he came forward, and she met him, holding her head high to keep back her tears.