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Added 1 October 2026

hold

/həʊld/ verb

In Latin: teneo Wiktionary

verb Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about hold at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

To grasp or grip.
Hold the pencil like this.
To contain or store.
This package holds six bottles.
To maintain or keep to a position or state. To have and keep possession of something.
Hold my coat for me.

noun

A grasp or grip.
Keep a firm hold on the handlebars.
An act or instance of holding.
Can I have a hold of the baby?
A place where animals are held for safety

noun

The cargo area of a ship or aircraft (often holds or cargo hold).
We watched our luggage being loaded into the hold of the plane.

adjective

Gracious; friendly; faithful; true.

Origin

Derived from Middle English holden, derived from Old English healdan, derived from Proto-West Germanic *haldan, derived from Proto-Germanic *haldaną (“to tend, herd”), maybe derived from Proto-Indo-European *kel- (“to drive”). Doublet of halt. Compare Latin celer (“quick”), Tocharian B käl- (“to goad, drive”), Ancient Greek κέλλω (kéllō, “to drive”), Sanskrit कलयति (kalayati, “to impel”).

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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