keep

Etymology

From Middle English kepen (“to keep, guard, look after, watch”), from Old English cēpan (“to seize, hold, observe”), from Proto-Germanic *kōpijaną (compare West Frisian kypje (“to look”)), from Proto-Indo-European *ǵab-, *ǵāb- (“to look after”) (compare Lithuanian žẽbti (“to eat reluctantly”), Russian забо́та (zabóta, “care, worry”)).

verb

1. To continue in (a course or mode of action); to not intermit or fall from; to uphold or maintain.
   to keep silence;  to keep possession
2. To remain faithful to a given promise or word.
   to keep one's word;  to keep one's promise
3. (transitive) To hold the status of something.
   1. To maintain possession of.
      I keep a small stock of painkillers for emergencies.
   2. (ditransitive) To maintain the condition of; to preserve in a certain state.
      I keep my specimens under glass to protect them.
      The abundance of squirrels kept the dogs running for hours.
      She mixed furniture with the same fatal profligacy as she mixed drinks, and this outrageous contact between things which were intended by Nature to be kept poles apart gave her an inexpressible thrill. 1935, George Goodchild, chapter 1, in Death on the Centre Court
   3. (transitive) To record transactions, accounts, or events in.
      I used to keep a diary.
   4. (transitive) To enter (accounts, records, etc.) in a book.
   5. (archaic) To remain in; to be confined to.
      The following day she was so ill that she kept her bed; the husband went not once to enquire for her, nor did he send any message: he also kept his apartment, and was heard walking backwards and forwards with a hurried pace the whole of that day. 1789, John Moore, Zeluco, Valancourt, published 2008, page 71
   6. To restrain.
      I keep my pet gerbil away from my brother.
      Don't let me keep you; I know you have things to be doing.
   7. (with from) To watch over, look after, guard, protect.
      May the Lord keep you from harm.
   8. To supply with necessities and financially support (a person).
      He kept a mistress for over ten years.
   9. (of living things) To raise; to care for.
      He has been keeping orchids since retiring.
      Of course boys are boys and need watching, but there is little watching necessary when they keep chickens. 1914, Robert Joos, Success with Hens, Forbes & company, page 217
      Jailing her on Wednesday, magistrate Liz Clyne told Robins: "You have shown little remorse either for the death of the kitten or the trauma to your former friend Sarah Knutton." She was also banned from keeping animals for 10 years. December 14, 2011, Steven Morris, “Devon woman jailed for 168 days for killing kitten in microwave”, in The Guardian
   10. To refrain from freely disclosing (a secret).
       I know that it's a secret / And that I gotta keep it / But I want the lights on / Yeah, I want the lights on 2012, Anthony Reyes, Melissa Sheppard, “Leave the Lights On”, in The Bright Side, performed by Meiko
   11. To maintain (an establishment or institution); to conduct; to manage.
       They were honourably accompanied and with great estate brought to London, where euery of them kept house by himselfe. 1630, John Hayward, The Life, and Raigne of King Edward the Sixt, London: John Partridge, page 114
   12. To have habitually in stock for sale.
4. (intransitive) To hold or be held in a state.
   1. (obsolete) To reside for a time; to lodge; to dwell.
      She kept to her bed while the fever lasted.
   2. To continue.
      I keep taking the tablets, but to no avail.
      Seeing the British establishment struggle with the financial sector is like watching an alcoholic[…]. Until 2008 there was denial over what finance had become.[…]But the scandals kept coming, and so we entered stage three – what therapists call "bargaining". A broad section of the political class now recognises the need for change but remains unable to see the necessity of a fundamental overhaul. Instead it offers fixes and patches. 2013-06-28, Joris Luyendijk, “Our banks are out of control”, in The Guardian Weekly, volume 189, number 3, page 21
   3. To remain edible or otherwise usable.
      Potatoes can keep if they are in a root cellar.
      Latex paint won't keep indefinitely.
      If the malt be not thoroughly dried, the ale it makes will not keep. 1707, John Mortimer, The Whole Art of Husbandry
   4. (copulative) To remain in a state.
      The rabbit avoided detection by keeping still.
      Keep calm! There's no need to panic.
5. (obsolete) To wait for, keep watch for.
6. (intransitive, cricket) To act as wicket-keeper.
   Godfrey Evans kept for England for many years.
7. (intransitive, obsolete) To take care; to be solicitous; to watch.
   […] kepe that the lustes choke not the word of God that is sowen in vs, c. 1530, William Tyndale, “A Pathway into the holy Scripture”, in The Whole Workes of W. Tyndall, Iohn Frith, and Doct. Barnes, London: John Day, published 1573, page 384
8. (intransitive, obsolete) To be in session; to take place.
   School keeps today.
9. (transitive) To observe; to adhere to; to fulfill; to not swerve from or violate.
10. (transitive, dated, by extension) To visit (a place) often; to frequent.
    […] 'tis hallowed ground; No Maid seeks here her strayed Cow, or Sheep, Fairies, and fawns, and satyrs do it keep: c. 1608, John Fletcher, The Faithful Shepherdess, Act III, Scene 1
11. (transitive, dated) To observe or celebrate (a holiday).
    The feast of St. Stephen is kept on December 26.
    "Oh, we are from Osthalla," says one of them, "we are going to the Veien dairy to keep the wedding; the one who drives in front is the parson, next are the bride and bridegroom, and I am his father-in-law." 1886, Peter Christen Asbjørnsen, translated by H.L. Brækstad, Folk and Fairy Tales, page 288

noun

1. (historical) The main tower of a castle or fortress, located within the castle walls.
2. The food or money required to keep someone alive and healthy; one's support, maintenance.
   He works as a cobbler's apprentice for his keep.
3. (obsolete) The act or office of keeping; custody; guard; care; heed; charge; notice.
4. The state of being kept; hence, the resulting condition; case.
   to be in good keep
5. (obsolete) That which is kept in charge; a charge.
6. (engineering) A cap for holding something, such as a journal box, in place.