Emily Dickinson Lexicon

KEEP, v.i.

1. To remain in any state; as, to keep at a distance; to keep aloft; to keep near; to keep in the house; to keep before or behind; to keep in favor; to keep out of company, or out of reach.
2. To last; to endure; not to perish or be impaired. Seek for winter's use apples that will keep. If the malt is not thoroughly dried, the ale it makes will not keep. Mortimer.
3. To lodge; to dwell; to reside for a time. Knock at the study; where, they say, he keeps. Shak. To keep to, to adhere strictly; not to neglect or deviate from; as, to keep to old customs; to keep to a rule; to keep to one's word or promise. To keep on, to go forward; to proceed; to continue to advance. Dryden. To keep up, to remain unsubdued; or not to be confined to one's bed. In popular language, this word signifies to continue; to repeat continually; not to cease.