maintain English · revision 4145

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1250|origins=la manū tenēre}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /meɪnˈteɪn/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|maintenen]], mayntenen, mainteinen,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) [[bor|xno|meintenir]], Old French maintenir “to keep a wife, sustain; persevere in, practise continually”,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) from [[la-med|manutenēre]],^(AHD 2000)^(MWU 2024) from Latin [[m|la|manū tenēre|t=to hold in the hand]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) from manū, the ablative of [[m|la|manus|t=hand]], and tenēre “to hold”.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(AHD 2000) Merriam-Webster notes that the Latin phrase meant “to know for certain”.^(MWU 2024) It is related to [[maintenance]], [[manual]] and [[tenant]].^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ “To practise habitually”, before 1250 in the OED;^(OED 1989) “to support, uphold, aid” and “to hold fast, keep in possession” about 1300 in Etymonline and Barnhart.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Hoad gives “to support the person or cause of” from the 13th century.^(Hoad 1986) “To hold in an existing state, keep in existence” is from the early 14th century,^(Etymonline) “to carry on, keep up”, as a war, from the mid-14th century,^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) and “to defend in speech, uphold by argument” also from the mid-14th century.^(Etymonline) “To keep oneself, support” is from the late 14th century,^(Etymonline) and “to furnish the means of subsistence for”, to provide for a family, from about 1400.^(Etymonline) ''Maintenance'', first before 1333, also meant support of a party in a lawsuit.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986) In Leicestershire, ''to maintain causes'' was to pay one's way.^(Wright 1898)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * a. 1250 – to practise habitually.^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1300 – to support, uphold.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * early 14th century – to keep in existence.^(Etymonline)

+ * mid-14th century – to carry on; to assert.^(Etymonline)

+ * c. 1400 – to provide for.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To keep up or carry on; to [[continue]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # To keep in an existing state; to [[preserve]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # To keep in good repair or working order.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # To provide for; to [[support]]: ''maintain a family''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # To defend against criticism or attack.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # To declare to be true; to [[assert]]: ''maintained his innocence''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[maintainability]]

+ * [[maintainable]]

+ * [[maintainer]]

+ * [[undermaintain]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[maintenance]]

+ * [[manual]]

+ * [[tenant]]

+ * [[manuscript]]

+ * [[sustain]]

+ * [[retain]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}