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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

KEEP, v.t. pret. and pp. kept. [L. habeo, and capio.]
1. To hold; to retain in one's power or possession; not to lose or part with; as, to keep a house or a farm; to keep any thing in the memory, mind or heart.
2. To have in custody for security or preservation.
The crown of Stephanus, first king of Hungary,was always kept in the castle of Vicegrade.
3. To preserve; to retain.
The Lord God, merciful and gracious, keeping mercy for thousands--Exodus 34.
4. To preserve from falling or from danger; to protect; to guard or sustain.
And behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee. Genesis 28.
Luke 4.
5. To hold or restrain from departure; to detain.
--That I may know what keeps me here with you.
6. To tend; to have the care of.
And the Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden, to dress it and to keep it. Genesis 2.
7. To tend; to feed; to pasture; as, to keep a flock of sheep or a herd of cattle in a yard or in a field. He keeps his horses on oats or on hay.
8. To preserve in any tenor or state. Keep a stiff rein.
Keep the constitution sound.
9. To regard; to attend to.
While the stars and course of heaven I keep--
10. To hold in any state; as, to keep in order.
11. To continue any state, course or action; as, to keep silence; to keep the same road or the same pace; to keep reading or talking; to keep a given distance.
12. To practice; to do or perform; to obey; to observe in practice; not to neglect or violate; as, to keep the laws, statutes or commandments of God.
13. To fulfill; to perform; as, to keep one's word,promise or covenant.
14. To practice; to use habitually; as, to keep bad hours.
15. To copy carefully.
Her servant's eyes were fix'd upon her face,
And as she moved or turned,her motions viewed,
Her measures kept, and step by step pursued.
16. To observe or solemnize.
17. To board; to maintain; to supply with necessaries of life. The men are kept at a moderate price per week.
18. To have in the house; to entertain; as, to keep lodgers.
19. To maintain; not to intermit; as, to keep watch or guard.
20. To hold in one's own bosom; to confine to one's own knowledge; not to disclose or communicate to others; not to betray; as, to keep a secret; to keep one's own counsel.
21. To have in pay; as, to keep a servant.
To keep back, to reserve; to withhold; not to disclose or communicate.
I will keep nothing back from you. Jeremiah 42.
1. To restrain;; to prevent from advancing.
Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins. Psalms 19.
2. To reserve; to withhold; not to deliver. Acts 5.
To keep company with, to frequent the society of; to associate with. Let youth keep company with the wise and good.
To accompany; to go with; as, to keep company with one on a journey or voyage.
To keep down, to prevent from rising; not to lift or suffer to be raised.
To keep in, to prevent from escape; to hold in confinement.
1. To conceal; not to tell or disclose.
2. To restrain; to curb.
To keep off, to hinder from approach or attack; as, to keep off an enemy or an evil.
To keep under, to restrain; to hold in subjection; as, to keep under an antagonist or a conquered country; to keep under the appetites and passions.
To keep up, to maintain; to prevent from falling or diminution; as, to keep up the price of goods; to keep up one's credit.
1. To maintain; to continue; to hinder from ceasing.
In joy, that which keeps up the action is the desire to continue it.keep out, to hinder from entering or taking possession.
To keep bed, to remain in bed without rising; to be confined to one's bed.
To keep house, to maintain a family state.
His income enables him to keep house.
1. To remain in the house; to be confined.
His feeble health obliges him to keep house.
To keep from, to restrain; to prevent approach.
To keep a school, to maintain or support it; as, the town or its inhabitants keep ten schools; more properly, to govern and instruct or teach a school, as a preceptor.
KEEP, v.i. To remain in any state; as, to keep at a distance; to keep aloft; to keep near; to keep in the house; to keep before or behind; to keep in favor; to keep out of company, or out of reach.
1. To last; to endure; not to perish or be impaired. Seek for winter's use apples that will keep.
If the malt is not thoroughly dried,the ale it makes will not keep.
2. To lodge; to dwell; to reside for a time.
Knock at the study, where, they say, he keeps.
To keep to, to adhere strictly; not to neglect or deviate from; as, to keep to old customs; to keep to a rule; to keep to one's word or promise.
To keep on, to go forward; to proceed; to continue to advance.
To keep up, to remain unsubdued; or not to be confined to one's bed.
In popular language, this word signifies to continue; to repeat continually; not to cease.
KEEP, n. Custody; guard. [Little used.]
1. Colloquially, case; condition; as in good keep.
2. Guardianship; restraint. [Little used.]
3. A place of confinement; in old castles,the dungeon.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: 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, keep, livelihood, living, bread and butter, sustenance]
2: the main tower within the walls of a medieval castle or fortress [syn: keep, donjon, dungeon]
3: a cell in a jail or prison [syn: hold, keep] v
1: 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" [syn: keep, maintain, hold]
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, go on, proceed, go along, keep] [ant: discontinue]
3: retain possession of; "Can I keep my old stuffed animals?"; "She kept her maiden name after she married" [syn: keep, hold on] [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, keep] [ant: allow, let, permit]
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, keep] [ant: breach, break, go against, infract, offend, transgress, violate]
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, keep, maintain]
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" [syn: keep, maintain]
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, continue, keep, keep on]
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, keep, maintain]
12: fail to spoil or rot; "These potatoes keep for a long time" [syn: keep, stay fresh]
13: behave as expected during of holidays or rites; "Keep the commandments"; "celebrate Christmas"; "Observe Yom Kippur" [syn: observe, celebrate, keep]
14: keep under control; keep in check; "suppress a smile"; "Keep your temper"; "keep your cool" [syn: restrain, keep, keep back, hold back]
15: maintain in safety from injury, harm, or danger; "May God keep you" [syn: keep, preserve]
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, hold open, keep, save]
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" [syn: keep, maintain]
21: hold and prevent from leaving; "The student was kept after school"
22: prevent (food) from rotting; "preserved meats"; "keep potatoes fresh" [syn: preserve, keep]

Merriam Webster's

I. verb (kept; keeping) Etymology: Middle English kepen, from Old English c?pan; perhaps akin to Old High German chapf?n to look Date: before 12th century transitive verb 1. to take notice of by appropriate conduct ; fulfill: as a. to be faithful to <keep a promise> b. to act fittingly in relation to <keep the Sabbath> c. to conform to in habits or conduct <keep late hours> d. to stay in accord with (a beat) <keep time> 2. preserve, maintain: as a. to watch over and defend <keep us from harm> b. (1) to take care of ; tend <keep a garden> (2) support (3) to maintain in a good, fitting, or orderly condition — usually used with up c. to continue to maintain <keep watch> d. (1) to cause to remain in a given place, situation, or condition <keep him waiting> (2) to preserve (food) in an unspoiled condition e. (1) to have or maintain in an established position or relationship <keep a mistress> — often used with on <kept the cook on> (2) to lodge or feed for pay <keep boarders> f. (1) to maintain a record in <keep a diary> (2) to enter in a book <keep records> g. to have customarily in stock for sale 3. a. to restrain from departure or removal ; detain <keep children after school> b. hold back, restrain <keep them from going> <kept him back with difficulty> c. save, reserve <keep some for later> <kept some out for a friend> d. to refrain from revealing <keep a secret> 4. a. to retain in one's possession or power <kept the money we found> b. to refrain from granting, giving, or allowing <kept the news back> c. to have in control <keep your temper> 5. to confine oneself to <keep my room> 6. a. to stay or continue in <keep the path> <keep your seat> b. to stay or remain on or in usually against opposition ; hold <kept her ground> 7. conduct, manage <keep a tearoom> intransitive verb 1. chiefly British live, lodge 2. a. to maintain a course, direction, or progress <keep to the right> b. to continue usually without interruption <keep talking> <keep quiet> <keep on smiling> c. to persist in a practice <kept bothering them> <kept on smoking in spite of warnings> 3. stay, remain <keep out of the way> <keep off the grass>: as a. to stay even — usually used with up <keep up with the Joneses> b. to remain in good condition <meat will keep in the freezer> c. to remain secret <the secret would keep> d. to call for no immediate action <the matter will keep until morning> 4. abstain, refrain <can't keep from talking> 5. to be in session <school will keep through the winter — W. M. Thayer> 6. of a quarterback to retain possession of a football especially after faking a handoff Synonyms: keep, observe, celebrate, commemorate mean to notice or honor a day, occasion, or deed. keep stresses the idea of not neglecting or violating <kept the Sabbath by refraining from work>. observe suggests marking the occasion by ceremonious performance <not all holidays are observed nationally>. celebrate suggests acknowledging an occasion by festivity <traditionally celebrates Thanksgiving with a huge dinner>. commemorate suggests that an occasion is marked by observances that remind one of the origin and significance of the event <commemorate Memorial Day with the laying of wreaths>. Synonyms: keep, retain, detain, withhold, reserve mean to hold in one's possession or under one's control. keep may suggest a holding securely in one's possession, custody, or control <keep this while I'm gone>. retain implies continued keeping, especially against threatened seizure or forced loss <managed to retain their dignity even in poverty>. detain suggests a delay in letting go <detained them for questioning>. withhold implies restraint in letting go or a refusal to let go <withheld information from the authorities>. reserve suggests a keeping in store for future use <reserve some of your energy for the last mile>. II. noun Date: 1579 1. a. archaic custody, charge b. maintenance 2. one that keeps or protects: as a. fortress, castle; specifically the strongest and securest part of a medieval castle b. one whose job is to keep or tend c. prison, jail 3. the means or provisions by which one is kept <earned his keep> 4. keeper 5

Oxford Reference Dictionary

v. & n. --v. (past and past part. kept) 1 tr. have continuous charge of; retain possession of. 2 tr. (foll. by for) retain or reserve for a future occasion or time (will keep it for tomorrow). 3 tr. & intr. retain or remain in a specified condition, position, course, etc. (keep cool; keep off the grass; keep them happy). 4 tr. put or store in a regular place (knives are kept in this drawer). 5 tr. (foll. by from) cause to avoid or abstain from something (will keep you from going too fast). 6 tr. detain; cause to be late (what kept you?). 7 tr. a observe or pay due regard to (a law, custom, etc.) (keep one's word). b honour or fulfil (a commitment, undertaking, etc.). c respect the commitment implied by (a secret etc.). d act fittingly on the occasion of (keep the sabbath). 8 tr. own and look after (animals) for amusement or profit (keeps bees). 9 tr. a provide for the sustenance of (a person, family, etc.). b (foll. by in) maintain (a person) with a supply of. 10 tr. carry on; manage (a shop, business, etc.). 11 a tr. maintain (accounts, a diary, etc.) by making the requisite entries. b tr. maintain (a house) in proper order. 12 tr. have (a commodity) regularly on sale (do you keep buttons?). 13 tr. guard or protect (a person or place, a goal in football, etc.). 14 tr. preserve in being; continue to have (keep order). 15 intr. (foll. by verbal noun) continue or do repeatedly or habitually (why do you keep saying that?). 16 tr. continue to follow (a way or course). 17 intr. a (esp. of perishable commodities) remain in good condition. b (of news or information etc.) admit of being withheld for a time. 18 tr. remain in (one's bed, room, house, etc.). 19 tr. retain one's place in (a seat or saddle, one's ground, etc.) against opposition or difficulty. 20 tr. maintain (a person) in return for sexual favours (a kept woman). --n. 1 maintenance or the essentials for this (esp. food) (hardly earn your keep). 2 charge or control (is in your keep). 3 hist. a tower or stronghold. Phrases and idioms: for keeps colloq. (esp. of something received or won) permanently, indefinitely. how are you keeping? how are you? keep at persist or cause to persist with. keep away (often foll. by from) 1 avoid being near. 2 prevent from being near. keep back 1 remain or keep at a distance. 2 retard the progress of. 3 conceal; decline to disclose. 4 retain, withhold (kept back £50). keep one's balance 1 remain stable; avoid falling. 2 retain one's composure. keep down 1 hold in subjection. 2 keep low in amount. 3 lie low; stay hidden. 4 manage not to vomit (food eaten). keep one's feet manage not to fall. keep-fit regular exercises to promote personal fitness and health. keep one's hair on see HAIR. keep one's hand in see HAND. keep in 1 confine or restrain (one's feelings etc.). 2 remain or confine indoors. 3 keep (a fire) burning. keep in with remain on good terms with. keep off 1 stay or cause to stay away from. 2 ward off; avert. 3 abstain from. 4 avoid (a subject) (let's keep off religion). keep on 1 continue to do something; do continually (kept on laughing). 2 continue to use or employ. 3 (foll. by at) pester or harass. keep out 1 keep or remain outside. 2 exclude. keep state 1 maintain one's dignity. 2 be difficult of access. keep to 1 adhere to (a course, schedule, etc.). 2 observe (a promise). 3 confine oneself to. keep to oneself 1 avoid contact with others. 2 refuse to disclose or share. keep together remain or keep in harmony. keep track of see TRACK(1). keep under hold in subjection. keep up 1 maintain (progress etc.). 2 prevent (prices, one's spirits, etc.) from sinking. 3 keep in repair, in an efficient or proper state, etc. 4 carry on (a correspondence etc.). 5 prevent (a person) from going to bed, esp. when late. 6 (often foll. by with) manage not to fall behind. keep up with the Joneses strive to compete socially with one's neighbours. keep one's word see WORD. Derivatives: keepable adj. Etymology: OE cepan, of unkn. orig.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Keep 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. 'Tis hallowed ground; Fairies, and fawns, and satyrs do it keep. --J. Fletcher. 16. To observe duty, as a festival, etc.; to celebrate; to solemnize; as, to keep a feast. I went with them to the house of God . . . with a multitude that kept holyday. --Ps. xlii. 4. To keep at arm's length. See under Arm, n. To keep back. (a) To reserve; to withhold. ``I will keep nothing back from you.'' --Jer. xlii. 4. (b) To restrain; to hold back. ``Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins.'' --Ps. xix. 13. To keep company with. (a) To frequent the society of; to associate with; as, let youth keep company with the wise and good. (b) To accompany; to go with; as, to keep company with one on a voyage; also, to pay court to, or accept attentions from, with a view to marriage. [Colloq.] To keep counsel. See under Counsel, n. To keep down. (a) To hold in subjection; to restrain; to hinder. (b) (Fine Arts) To subdue in tint or tone, as a portion of a picture, so that the spectator's attention may not be diverted from the more important parts of the work. To keep good (or bad) hours, to be customarily early (or late) in returning home or in retiring to rest. -- To keep house. (a) To occupy a separate house or establishment, as with one's family, as distinguished from boarding; to manage domestic affairs. (b) (Eng. Bankrupt Law) To seclude one's self in one's house in order to evade the demands of creditors. -- To keep one's hand in, to keep in practice. -- To keep open house, to be hospitable. -- To keep the peace (Law), to avoid or to prevent a breach of the peace. -- To keep school, to govern, manage and instruct or teach a school, as a preceptor. -- To keep a stiff upper lip, to keep up one's courage. [Slang] -- To keep term. (a) (Eng. Universities) To reside during a term. (b) (Inns of Court) To eat a sufficient number of dinners in hall to make the term count for the purpose of being called to the bar. [Eng.] --Mozley & W. To keep touch. See under Touch, n. To keep under, to hold in subjection; hence, to oppress. To keep up. (a) To maintain; to prevent from falling or diminution; as, to keep up the price of goods; to keep up one's credit. (b) To maintain; to continue; to prevent from ceasing. ``In joy, that which keeps up the action is the desire to continue it.'' --Locke. Syn: To retain; detain; reserve; preserve; hold; restrain; maintain; sustain; support; withhold. -- To Keep. Usage: Retain, Preserve. Keep is the generic term, and is often used where retain or preserve would too much restrict the meaning; as, to keep silence, etc. Retain denotes that we keep or hold things, as against influences which might deprive us of them, or reasons which might lead us to give them up; as, to retain vivacity in old age; to retain counsel in a lawsuit; to retain one's servant after a reverse of fortune. Preserve denotes that we keep a thing against agencies which might lead to its being destroyed or broken in upon; as, to preserve one's health; to preserve appearances.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Keep Keep, v. i. 1. To remain in any position or state; to continue; to abide; to stay; as, to keep at a distance; to keep aloft; to keep near; to keep in the house; to keep before or behind; to keep in favor; to keep out of company, or out reach. 2. To last; to endure; to remain unimpaired. If the malt be not thoroughly dried, the ale it makes will not keep. --Mortimer. 3. To reside for a time; to lodge; to dwell. [Now disused except locally or colloquially.] Knock at his study, where, they say, he keeps. --Shak. 4. To take care; to be solicitous; to watch. [Obs.] Keep that the lusts choke not the word of God that is in us. --Tyndale. 5. To be in session; as, school keeps to-day. [Colloq.] To keep from, to abstain or refrain from. To keep in with, to keep on good terms with; as, to keep in with an opponent. To keep on, to go forward; to proceed; to continue to advance. To keep to, to adhere strictly to; not to neglect or deviate from; as, to keep to old customs; to keep to a rule; to keep to one's word or promise. To keep up, to remain unsubdued; also, not to be confined to one's bed.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Keep Keep, n. 1. The act or office of keeping; custody; guard; care; heed; charge. --Chaucer. Pan, thou god of shepherds all, Which of our tender lambkins takest keep. --Spenser. 2. The state of being kept; hence, the resulting condition; case; as, to be in good keep. 3. The means or provisions by which one is kept; maintenance; support; as, the keep of a horse. Grass equal to the keep of seven cows. --Carlyle. I performed some services to the college in return for my keep. --T. Hughes. 4. That which keeps or protects; a stronghold; a fortress; a castle; specifically, the strongest and securest part of a castle, often used as a place of residence by the lord of the castle, especially during a siege; the donjon. See Illust. of Castle. The prison strong, Within whose keep the captive knights were laid. --Dryden. The lower chambers of those gloomy keeps. --Hallam. I think . . . the keep, or principal part of a castle, was so called because the lord and his domestic circle kept, abode, or lived there. --M. A. Lower. 5. That which is kept in charge; a charge. [Obs.] Often he used of his keep A sacrifice to bring. --Spenser. 6. (Mach.) A cap for retaining anything, as a journal box, in place. To take keep, to take care; to heed. [Obs.] --Chaucer.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

In 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.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(keeps, keeping, kept) Frequency: The word is one of the 700 most common words in English. 1. If someone keeps or is kept in a particular state, they remain in it. The noise kept him awake... To keep warm they burnt wood in a rusty oil barrel... For several years I kept in touch with her. V-LINK: V n adj/prep, V adj/prep, V adj/prep 2. If you keep or you are kept in a particular position or place, you remain in it. Keep away from the doors while the train is moving... He kept his head down, hiding his features... Doctors will keep her in hospital for at least another week. VERB: V adv/prep, V n with adv, V n prep 3. If you keep off something or keep away from it, you avoid it. If you keep out of something, you avoid getting involved in it. You can also say that you keep someone off, away from or out of something. I managed to stick to the diet and keep off sweet foods... The best way to keep babies off sugar is to go back to the natural diet and eat lots of fresh fruit. VERB: V prep/adv, V n prep/adv 4. If someone or something keeps you from a particular action, they prevent you from doing it. Embarrassment has kept me from doing all sorts of things... = stop VERB: V n from -ing 5. If you try to keep from doing something, you try to stop yourself from doing it. She bit her lip to keep from crying... VERB: V from -ing 6. If you keep something from someone, you do not tell them about it. She knew that Gabriel was keeping something from her. VERB: V n from n 7. If you keep doing something, you do it repeatedly or continue to do it. I keep forgetting it's December... I turned back after a while, but he kept walking... VERB: V -ing, V -ing • Keep on means the same as keep. Did he give up or keep on trying?... PHRASAL VERB: V P -ing 8. Keep is used with some nouns to indicate that someone does something for a period of time or continues to do it. For example, if you keep a grip on something, you continue to hold or control it. Until last year, the regime kept a tight grip on the country... One of them would keep a look-out on the road behind to warn us of approaching vehicles... VERB: V n, V n 9. If you keep something, you continue to have it in your possession and do not throw it away, give it away, or sell it. Lathan had to choose between marrying her and keeping his job. VERB: V n 10. If you keep something in a particular place, you always have it or store it in that place so that you can use it whenever you need it. She kept her money under the mattress... To make it easier to contact us, keep this card handy. VERB: V n prep/adv, V n adj 11. When you keep something such as a promise or an appointment, you do what you said you would do. I'm hoping you'll keep your promise to come for a long visit... VERB: V n 12. If you keep a record of a series of events, you write down details of it so that they can be referred to later. Eleanor began to keep a diary... VERB: V n 13. If you keep yourself or keep someone else, you support yourself or the other person by earning enough money to provide food, clothing, money, and other necessary things. She could just about afford to keep her five kids... I just cannot afford to keep myself... The pay was enough to keep him in whisky for a day or two. VERB: V n, V pron-refl, V n in n 14. Someone's keep is the cost of food and other things that they need in their daily life. Ray will earn his keep on local farms while studying... N-SING: poss N 15. If you keep animals, you own them and take care of them. I've brought you some eggs. We keep chickens... VERB: V n 16. If someone or something keeps you, they delay you and make you late. 'What kept you?'—'I went in the wrong direction.' VERB: V n 17. If food keeps for a certain length of time, it stays fresh and suitable to eat for that time. Whatever is left over may be put into the refrigerator, where it will keep for 2-3 weeks. VERB: V 18. You can say or ask how someone is keeping as a way of saying or asking whether they are well. She hasn't been keeping too well lately... VERB: only cont, V adv 19. A keep is the main tower of a medieval castle, in which people lived. N-COUNT 20. If you keep at it, you continue doing something that you have started, even if you are tired and would prefer to stop. It may take a number of attempts, but it is worth keeping at it... PHRASE: V inflects 21. If you keep going, you continue moving along or doing something that you have started, even if you are tired and would prefer to stop. She forced herself to keep going... PHRASE: keep inflects 22. If one thing is in keeping with another, it is suitable in relation to that thing. If one thing is out of keeping with another, it is not suitable in relation to that thing. His office was in keeping with his station and experience... PHRASE: v-link PHR, PHR with cl, oft PHR with n 23. If you keep it up, you continue working or trying as hard as you have been in the past. You're doing a great job! Keep it up! PHRASE: V inflects 24. If you keep something to yourself, you do not tell anyone else about it. I have to tell someone. I can't keep it to myself... PHRASE: V inflects 25. If you keep yourself to yourself or keep to yourself, you stay on your own most of the time and do not mix socially with other people. He was a quiet man who kept himself to himself... ? socialize PHRASE: V inflects 26. to keep someone company: see company to keep a straight face: see face to keep your head: see head to keep pace: see pace to keep the peace: see peace to keep a secret: see secret to keep time: see time to keep track: see track

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

I. v. a. 1. Retain, detain, hold, hold fast. 2. Preserve, maintain, continue. 3. Restrain, withhold. 4. Guard, protect, preserve, take care of. 5. Fulfil, observe, adhere to, be faithful to, be true to, stand by. 6. Celebrate, honor, solemnize, commemorate, do honor to. 7. Sustain, support, maintain. 8. Preserve, store, store up, lay away. II. v. n. 1. Continue, remain. 2. Stay, abide, lodge, dwell. 3. Endure, last. III. n. Stronghold, donjon.

1811 Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue

To inhabit. Lord, where do you keep? i.e. where are your rooms? ACADEMICAL PHRASE. Mother, your tit won't keep; your daughter will not preserve her virginity.

Moby Thesaurus

POW camp, TLC, abide, abide by, abstain, accede to, accommodate, accommodation, accommodations, accumulate, acknowledge, acropolis, act up to, adhere to, administer Communion, afford, afford support, agree to, aliment, alimentation, alimony, amass, arm, armor, arrest, attend Communion, attend Mass, attend to, attend to orders, backlog, balance, ballast, bastille, bastion, be faithful to, beachhead, bear, bear in mind, bear out, bear up, beat the drum, bed, bed and board, bide, bit, black hole, bless, block, blockhouse, blow the trumpet, board, board and room, bolster, bolster up, borstal, borstal institution, bosom, bottle up, box up, bread, bread and butter, breed, bridewell, bridgehead, bridle, brig, brood over, bunker, buttress, cage, camouflage, can, care, care for, carry, carry on, castle, celebrate, celebrate Mass, cell, champion, charge, check, cherish, citadel, cling to, clink, clip, cloak, cloister, clothe, collect, commemorate, communicate, compass about, comply, comply with, conceal, concentration camp, condemned cell, conduct, confine, conform, conform to, consecrate, conserve, constrain, contain, continue, continue to be, control, cool, cool off, cooler, coop, coop in, coop up, copyright, cork up, counterbalance, cover, crib, crutch, culture, cumulate, curb, curtail, cushion, custodianship, custody, daily bread, death cell, death house, death row, decelerate, defeat time, defend, defer to, defy time, deny, detain, detention camp, deter, direct, disallow, discourage, do justice to, dompt, donate, donjon, dress ship, dungeon, dwell, dwell on, dwell upon, economic support, embosom, embrace, encage, enclose, endow, endowment, endure, enjoin, enjoy, ensure, entertain, exist, extend, facilities, fan the embers, farm, fasthold, fastness, fatten, federal prison, feed, fence, fence in, fend, fill, fill up, finance, find, fire a salute, firm, firm up, follow, follow the book, fondle, food, forbear, forbid, forced-labor camp, fort, fortress, foster, freeze, fulfill, fund, furnish, gaol, garner, garner up, garrison, garrison house, gather into barns, give, give support, go on, govern, grow, guarantee, guard, guardhouse, guarding, hallow, hang on to, harbor, harken to, hatch, have, have and hold, have in mind, haven, heap up, heed, hem in, hide, hinder, hoard, hoard up, hold, hold at bay, hold back, hold by, hold down, hold fast, hold in, hold in check, hold in custody, hold in leash, hold in mind, hold in restraint, hold jubilee, hold on, hold on to, hold out, hold up, honor, house of correction, house of detention, hug, husband, immobilize, immure, impound, imprison, incarcerate, industrial school, inhibit, insure, internment camp, invest, jail, jailhouse, jubilate, jubilize, jug, keep alive, keep back, keep by one, keep dark, keep faith with, keep from, keep from harm, keep going, keep in, keep in check, keep in custody, keep in detention, keep in memory, keep in mind, keep in reserve, keep in store, keep in view, keep intact, keep inviolate, keep on, keep on hand, keep out, keep safe, keep the faith, keep under control, keep up, keeping, labor camp, last, last long, last out, laud, lay by, lay under restraint, lay up, lend support, lengthen, listen to, live, live on, live through, live up to, livelihood, living, lock in, lockup, lodgings, look after, maffick, maintain, maintenance, make available, make good, make merry, make provision for, make safe, manage, manna, mark, martello, martello tower, mask, maximum-security prison, meat, meet, memorialize, mew, mew up, mind, minimum-security prison, mote, mothering, motte, muzzle, nail down, nestle, not destroy, not endanger, not expend, not use up, not waste, nourish, nourishment, nurse, nurture, nutriment, obey, obey the rules, observe, obstruct, operate, ordain, oubliette, own, pabulum, pap, patent, pay attention to, peel, peel tower, pen, pen up, penal colony, penal institution, penal settlement, penitentiary, perdure, perennate, perpetuate, persist, persist in, pile up, pillbox, pin down, pokey, police, possess, post, pound, praise, prepare, present, preserve, prevail, prevent, preventive custody, price support, prison, prison camp, prisonhouse, prohibit, prolong, prop, prop up, protect, protection, protective custody, protract, provide, provide for, provision, pull, pull in, put apart, put aside, put away, put by, put up, rail in, raise, ranch, rath, rear, receive the Sacrament, recruit, refection, reform school, reformatory, refreshment, regard, register, rein, rein in, reinforce, remain, replenish, repress, reserve, respect, restrain, restrict, retain, retard, retrench, ride shotgun for, run, run on, safeguard, safehold, safekeeping, sanctify, satisfy, save, save up, screen, seal up, secrete, secure, set apart, set aside, set back, set by, shackle, shelter, shield, shore, shore up, shroud, shut in, shut up, signalize, slow down, smother, snub, solemnize, solemnly mark, sound a fanfare, spare, sponging house, squirrel, squirrel away, stabilitate, stabilize, stand, stand up, state prison, stay, stay in line, stay on, steady, stick, stifle, stir, stock, stock up, stockade, stockpile, store, store up, stow away, straiten, strong point, stronghold, submit, subsidization, subsidize, subsidy, subsist, subsistence, subvention, subventionize, supply, support, suppress, survive, sustain, sustainment, sustenance, sustentation, take orders, tarry, tend, tender loving care, the hole, tide over, toe the line, tollbooth, tower, tower of strength, training school, transfix, treasure, treasure up, undergird, underwrite, upbear, uphold, upkeep, victual, wall in, ward, watch over, wear, wear well, withhold, yield