transitive verb kept, keeping keep′·ing

1. to observe or pay regard to; specif.,
   1. to observe with due or prescribed acts, ceremonies, etc.; celebrate or solemnize to keep the Sabbath
   2. to fulfill (a promise, etc.)
   3. to follow or adhere to (a routine, diet, etc.)
   4. to go on maintaining to keep pace
   5. Archaic to attend (church, etc.) regularly
2. to take care of, or have and take care or charge of; specif.,
   1. to protect; guard; defend
   2. to look after; watch over; tend
   3. to raise (livestock)
   4. to maintain in good order or condition; preserve
   5. to supply with food, shelter, etc.; provide for; support
   6. to supply with food or lodging for pay to keep boarders
   7. to have or maintain in one's service or for one's use to keep servants
   8. to set down regularly in writing; maintain (a continuous written record) to keep an account of sales
   9. to make regular entries in; maintain a continuous record of transactions, accounts, or happenings in to keep books of account, to keep a diary
   10. to carry on; conduct; manage
3. to maintain, or cause to stay or continue, in a specified condition, position, etc. to keep an engine running
4. to have or hold; specif.,
   1. to have or hold for future use or for a long time
   2. to have regularly in stock for sale
5. to have or hold and not let go; specif.,
   1. to hold in custody; prevent from escaping
   2. to prevent from leaving; detain
   3. to hold back; restrain to keep someone from talking
   4. to withhold
   5. to conceal; not tell (a secret, etc.)
   6. to continue to have or hold; not lose or give up
   7. to stay in or at; not leave (a path, course, or place)

Etymology: ME kepen < OE cœpan, to behold, watch out for, lay hold of, akin to MLowG kapen, ON kopa, to stare at < ? IE base *ĝab-, to look at or for

intransitive verb

1. to stay or continue in a specified condition, position, etc.
2. to continue; go on; persevere or persist: often with on to keep on talking
3. to hold oneself back; refrain to keep from telling someone
4. to stay in good condition; not become spoiled, sour, stale, etc.; last
5. to require no immediate attention a task that will keep until tomorrow
6. ☆ Informal to continue in session will school keep all day?
7. Now Rare to reside; live; stay

noun

1. Obsolete care, charge, or custody
2. 1. the strongest, innermost part or central tower of a medieval castle; donjon
   2. a stronghold; fort; castle
3. Rare a keeping or being kept
4. what is needed to maintain a person or animal; food and shelter; support; livelihood