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.