| The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. 2000. |
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| maintain |
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| SYLLABICATION: | main·tain |
| PRONUNCIATION: |  m n-tn |
| TRANSITIVE VERB: | Inflected forms: main·tained, main·tain·ing, main·tains
1. To keep up or carry on; continue: maintain good relations. 2. To keep in an existing state; preserve or retain: maintain one's composure. 3. To keep in a condition of good repair or efficiency: maintain two cars. 4a. To provide for; support: maintain a family. b. To keep in existence; sustain: enough food to maintain life. 5. To defend or hold against criticism or attack: maintained his stand on taxes. 6. To declare to be true; affirm: maintained her innocence. 7. To adhere or conform to; keep: maintain a busy schedule. | | ETYMOLOGY: | Middle English maintainen, from Old French maintenir, from Medieval Latin manuten re, from Latin man tenre, to hold in the hand : man, ablative of manus, hand; see man-2 in Appendix I + tenre, to hold; see ten- in Appendix I. | | OTHER FORMS: | main·tain a·bili·ty —NOUN
main·taina·ble —ADJECTIVE
main·tainer —NOUN
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| The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition. Copyright © 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by the Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. |
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