pret. and pp. kept.

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.

To have in custody for security or preservation. The crown of Stephanus, first king of Hungary, was always kept in the castle of Vicegrade.

To preserve; to retain. The Lord God, merciful and gracious, keeping mercy for thousands- - Exodus 34:6, 7,

To preserve from falling or from danger; to protect; to guard or sustain. And behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee. Genesis 28:15; Luke 4:10.

To hold or restrain from departure; to detain. --That I may know what keeps me here with you.

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 2:15.

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.

To preserve in any tenor or state. Keep a stiff rein. Keep the constitution sound.

To regard; to attend to. While the stars and course of heaven I keep-- .

To hold in any state; as, to keep in order.

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.

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.

To fulfill; to perform; as, to keep one’s word, promise or covenant.

To practice; to use habitually; as, to keep bad hours.

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.

To observe or solemnize.

To board; to maintain; to supply with necessaries of life. The men are kept at a moderate price per week.

To have in the house; to entertain; as, to keep lodgers.

To maintain; not to intermit; as, to keep watch or guard.