Word: hold Part of Speech: verb Etymology: Etymology tree Proto-Germanic *haldaną Proto-West Germanic *haldan Old English healdan Middle English holden English hold Derived from Middle English holden, derived from Old English healdan, derived from Proto-West Germanic *haldan, derived from Proto-Germanic *haldaną (“to tend, herd”), maybe derived from Proto-Indo-European *kel- (“to drive”). Doublet of halt. Cognates *West Frisian hâlde *Low German holden, holen *Dutch houden *German halten *Danish *Norwegian Bokmål holde *Norwegian Nynorsk halda. Compare Latin celer (“quick”), Tocharian B käl- (“to goad, drive”), Ancient Greek κέλλω (kéllō, “to drive”), Sanskrit कलयति (kalayati, “to impel”). Pronunciation: /həʊld/, [hɒʊɫd], /hɔwld/, [hɔw(ɫ)d], /hɔld/ 1. To grasp or grip. Labels: transitive Example: Hold the pencil like this. Example: But then I had the flintlock by me for protection. ¶ There were giants in the days when that gun was made; for surely no modern mortal could have held that mass of metal steady to his shoulder. The linen-press and a chest on the top of it formed, however, a very good gun-carriage; and, thus mounted, aim could be taken out of the window[…]. 2. To contain or store. Labels: transitive Example: This package holds six bottles. 3. To maintain or keep to a position or state. Labels: transitive Example: Hold my coat for me. Example: The general ordered the colonel to hold his position at all costs. 4. To maintain or keep to a position or state. Labels: transitive Example: Hold a table for us at 7:00. 5. To maintain or keep to a position or state. Labels: transitive Example: Hold the elevator. 6. To maintain or keep to a position or state. Labels: transitive Example: Patients who test positive for COVID-19 infection should be advised to hold their biologic dose until their infection clears. 7. To maintain or keep to a position or state. Labels: transitive Example: Hold the suspect in this cell. 8. To maintain or keep to a position or state. Labels: copulative, intransitive Example: to hold true Example: The proposition holds. 9. To maintain or keep to a position or state. Labels: copulative, intransitive Example: to hold firm Example: Mother[…]considered that the exclusiveness of Peter's circle was due not to its distinction, but to the fact that it was an inner Babylon of prodigality and whoredom, from which every Kensingtonian held aloof, except on the conventional tip-and-run excursions in pursuit of shopping, tea and theatres. 10. To maintain or keep to a position or state. Labels: transitive Example: We cannot hold mortality's strong hand. Example: Death! what do'st? O, hold thy blow. 11. To maintain or keep to a position or state. Labels: transitive Example: He holds himself proudly erect. Example: Hold your head high. 12. To maintain or keep to a position or state. Labels: imperative, intransitive Example: Lay on, Macduff, and damned him that first cries hold, enough! 13. To maintain or keep to a position or state. Labels: intransitive Example: Our force by land hath nobly held. Example: The canvas was punctured by the little balls, but held. 14. To maintain or keep to a position or state. Example: to hold one's bladder Example: to hold one's breath 15. To maintain or keep to particular opinions, promises, actions. Labels: transitive Example: She holds that passive index funds beat actively managed ones: she says that "set it and forget it," when done right, beats playing the market as a gambler. Example: He neuer hild but gracious thoughts of vvomen, yeat, I vvinne, / The fayreſt She he euer ſavv might quit his thoughts of ſinne. 16. To maintain or keep to particular opinions, promises, actions. Labels: transitive Example: He was held responsible for the actions of those under his command. Example: I'll hold him to that promise. 17. To maintain or keep to particular opinions, promises, actions. Example: Hold not thy peace, and be not still. Example: Seedtime and harvest, heat and hoary frost, / Shall hold their course. 18. To maintain or keep to particular opinions, promises, actions. Example: Stand fast and hold the traditions which ye have been taught. Example: These reasons mov'd her starlike husband's heart, But still he held his purpose to depart: 19. To maintain or keep to particular opinions, promises, actions. Labels: archaic Example: His dauntless heart would fain have held / From weeping, but his eyes rebelled. 20. To win one's own service game. Labels: ambitransitive 21. To take place, to occur. Example: He came into the hall where the wedding-festival had held […]. 22. To organise an event or meeting (usually in passive voice). Example: Elections will be held on the first Sunday of next month. Example: Here, in the transept and choir, where the service was being held, one was conscious every moment of an increasing brightness; colours glowing vividly beneath the circular chandeliers, and the rows of small lights on the choristers' desks flashed and sparkled in front of the boys' faces, deep linen collars, and red neckbands. 23. To derive right or title. Labels: archaic Example: My Crovvn is abſolute, and holds of none. Example: His imagination holds immediately from nature. 24. In a food or drink order at an informal restaurant etc., requesting that a component normally included in that order be omitted. Labels: imperative Example: One ham-and-cheese sandwich; hold the mustard. Example: A martini, please, and hold the olive. 25. To be in possession of illicit drugs for sale. Labels: intransitive, slang Example: […] first thing clients would say to me would be 'Are you holding?' I'd say yes if we had our supply and no if it was dangerous.