keep

To continue in (a course or mode of action); to not intermit or fall from; to uphold or maintain.transitive

• to keep silence; to keep possession

To remain faithful to a given promise or word.transitive

• to keep one's word; to keep one's promise

To hold the status of something.; To maintain possession of.transitive

• I keep a small stock of painkillers for emergencies.
• I only meant to lend him the shirt at first, but it looked better on him than me, so I told him to keep it.

To hold the status of something.; To maintain the condition of; to preserve in a certain state.ditransitivetransitive

• I keep my specimens under glass to protect them.
• The abundance of squirrels kept the dogs running for hours.

To hold the status of something.; To record transactions, accounts, or events in.transitive

• I used to keep a diary.

To hold the status of something.; To enter (accounts, records, etc.) in a book.transitive

To hold the status of something.; To remain in; to be confined to.archaictransitive

• Metrocles somewhat indiscreetly, as he was disputing in his Schole, in presence of his auditory, let a fart, for shame whereof he afterwards kept his house and could not be drawen abroad[…].
• The wrathful skies / Gallow the very wanderers of the dark / And make them keep their caves.

To hold the status of something.; To restrain.transitive

• I keep my pet gerbil away from my brother.
• Don't let me keep you; I know you have things to be doing.

To hold the status of something.; To watch over, look after, guard, protect.transitive

• May the Lord keep you from harm.

To hold the status of something.; To supply with necessities and financially support (a person).transitive

• He kept a mistress for over ten years.

The main tower of a castle or fortress, located within the castle walls.countablehistoricaluncountable

The food or money required to keep someone alive and healthy; one's support, maintenance.countableuncountable

• He works as a cobbler's apprentice for his keep.

The state of being kept; hence, the resulting condition; case.countableuncountable

• to be in good keep

A cap for holding something, such as a journal box, in place.countableuncountable

The act or office of keeping; custody; guard; care; heed; charge; notice.countableobsoleteuncountable

• So Sir Gareth strayned hym so that his olde wounde braste ayen on bledynge; but he was hote and corragyous and toke no kepe, but with his grete forse he strake downe the knyght[…].
• Pan, thou god of shepherds all, / Which of our tender lambkins takest keep.

That which is kept in charge; a charge.countableobsoleteuncountable

• Often he used of his keep / A sacrifice to bring.

A mistress (the other woman in an extramarital relationship, generally including sexual relations).countableeuphemisticobsolete

• My Darling Girl, In London the other day I heard a piece of news which may amuse you. The French girl who shot her so-called Egyptian prince and is going to be tried for murder, is the fancy woman who was the Prince's 'keep' in Paris during