Emily Dickinson Lexicon

hold (-ing, -s, held), v. [OE haldan < Germanic.] (webplay: anchor, arms, basket, bearing, blow, carry, child, contain, curtain, debate, distance, dollar, endure, escape, estate, exhibit, fail, fast, fix, fool, frost, grace, hand, head, horse, interrupted, judge, keep, last, laughter, lifting, limit, measure, nature, night, offer, orange, peace, people, possession, practice, raining, reach, running, solemnize, stand, still, stop, take, teach, think, thunder, title, tongue, true, up, water, within). Bind; connect;

1. Retain; contain; prevent; restrain; confine within.
2. Bear in the hand; maintain in one's grasp.
3. Bind; tie; secure; fasten; connect; fix; keep; maintain.
4. Stick together; retain cohesion; maintain position; remain immovable; stay in place; keep from separation; refrain from dropping.
5. Think; regard; consider; believe; maintain an opinion.
6. Contain; bear a certain amount.
7. Own; retain.
8. Mold; shape.
9. Phrase. “hold … breath”: stay still; remain motionless due to profound awe.
10. Phrase. “hold up”: sustain; support.