01 v. t. To hold or keep in any particular state or condition; to support; to sustain; to uphold; to keep up; not to suffer to fail or decline; as, …
imp. & p. p.
Maintained; p. pr. & vb. n.
Maintaining
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1.
To hold or keep in any particular state or condition; to support; to sustain; to uphold; to keep up; not to suffer to fail or decline; as, to maintain a certain degree of heat in a furnace; to maintain a fence or a railroad; to maintain the digestive process or powers of the stomach; to maintain the fertility of soil; to maintain present reputation.
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2.
To keep possession of; to hold and defend; not to surrender or relinquish.“God values . . . every one as he maintains his post.” — Grew.
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3.
To continue; not to suffer to cease or fail.“Maintain talk with the duke.” — Shak.
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4.
To bear the expense of; to support; to keep up; to supply with what is needed.“Glad, by his labor, to maintain his life.” — Stirling.“What maintains one vice would bring up two children.” — Franklin.
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5.
To affirm; to support or defend by argument.“It is hard to maintain the truth, but much harder to be maintained by it.” — South.