1. (n.) The whole interior portion of a vessel below the lower deck, in which the cargo is stowed.

2. (v. t.) To cause to remain in a given situation, position, or relation, within certain limits, or the like; to prevent from falling or escaping; to sustain; to restrain; to keep in the grasp; to retain.

3. (v. t.) To retain in one's keeping; to maintain possession of, or authority over; not to give up or relinquish; to keep; to defend.

4. (v. t.) To have; to possess; to be in possession of; to occupy; to derive title to; as, to hold office.

5. (v. t.) To impose restraint upon; to limit in motion or action; to bind legally or morally; to confine; to restrain.

6. (v. t.) To maintain in being or action; to carry on; to prosecute, as a course of conduct or an argument; to continue; to sustain.

7. (v. t.) To prosecute, have, take, or join in, as something which is the result of united action; as to, hold a meeting, a festival, a session, etc.; hence, to direct and bring about officially; to conduct or preside at; as, the general held a council of war; a judge holds a court; a clergyman holds a service.

8. (v. t.) To receive and retain; to contain as a vessel; as, this pail holds milk; hence, to be able to receive and retain; to have capacity or containing power for.

9. (v. t.) To accept, as an opinion; to be the adherent of, openly or privately; to persist in, as a purpose; to maintain; to sustain.

10. (v. t.) To consider; to regard; to esteem; to account; to think; to judge.

11. (v. t.) To bear, carry, or manage; as he holds himself erect; he holds his head high.

12. (n. i.) In general, to keep one's self in a given position or condition; to remain fixed. Hence:

13. (n. i.) Not to more; to halt; to stop;-mostly in the imperative.

14. (n. i.) Not to give way; not to part or become separated; to remain unbroken or unsubdued.

15. (n. i.) Not to fail or be found wanting; to continue; to last; to endure a test or trial; to abide; to persist.

16. (n. i.) Not to fall away, desert, or prove recreant; to remain attached; to cleave;-often with, to, or for.

17. (n. i.) To restrain one's self; to refrain.

18. (n. i.) To derive right or title; -- generally with of.

19. (n.) The act of holding, as in or with the hands or arms; the manner of holding, whether firm or loose; seizure; grasp; clasp; gripe; possession; -- often used with the verbs take and lay.

20. (n.) The authority or ground to take or keep; claim.

21. (n.) Binding power and influence.

22. (n.) Something that may be grasped; means of support.

23. (n.) A place of confinement; a prison; confinement; custody; guard.

24. (n.) A place of security; a fortified place; a fort; a castle; -- often called a stronghold.

25. (n.) A character [thus /] placed over or under a note or rest, and indicating that it is to be prolonged; -- called also pause, and corona.

abandon abduction abide abort absorb absorb the attention abstain accent accent mark accommodate account account as accumulate acropolis adhere adhere to adjudge adjudicate admit advance advantage adverse possession affirm afford support agglomerate agree to agree with allege allow alodium amass announce annunciate answer apply apprehension approve of archives argue armory arrest arrestation arsenal ascendancy assemble assert assever asseverate assimilate assume attic authority avail aver avoid avouch avow back back up backlog balance ballast bank bar basement bastion bay be be afraid be consistent be enfeoffed of be equal to be extant be found be in existence be judicious be met with be possessed of be present be seized of be the case be there be true be truthful beachhead bear bear hug bear up belay believe beset bide bin bite blockhouse boast bolster bolster up bonded warehouse bookcase booth bosom bottle up box box up brace breathe bridgehead bridle bunch bunker buoy up burgage buttery buttress cage call cancel capture care cargo dock carry carry on castle catch catch up catching cavity cease cell cellar cellarage cellule chamber character charge charisma charm check cherish chest citadel claim clamp clasp claws cleave cleave to clench clinch cling cling to clinging clip cloister closet clot clout cluster clutch clutches coagulate coal bin cohere collaring collect colony command compartment compel complete comprehend comprise conceal conceive condone conduct confine conform to fact congeal conglomerate consequence conservatory consider constrain contain contend continue continue to be control convene convoke cool cool off coop coop in coop up cork up count count in countenance counterbalance coup cover cradle crate credit crib crutch crypt cumulate cupboard curb curtail cushion custodianship custody custos cut it out cyclone cellar daresay de facto de jure death grip decelerate declaim declare deem defeat time defer defy time delay deny dependency depository depot derivative title desist detain diminish direct discontinue display do do it dock dominance domination dominion dompt donjon dot dragnet drawer