v. Obs. Also 2–3 et-hold; for inflexions, see HOLD v. [f. AT- pref.2 + HOLD v.; in OE. oðhealdan. Cf. G. enthalten, Du. onthouden.]
1. trans. To withhold, keep back (something).
c. 885. K. Ælfred, Gregory’s Past., xlix. 377. Oððe ʓif hwelc folc bið mid hungre ʓeswenced, & hwá his hwæte ʓehyt & oðhielt.
c. 1175. Lamb. Hom., 9. Heo walden sum of heore ehte etholdan þam apostlan.
c. 1205. Lay., 12483. Ofte ȝe us habbeð at-halden Þat gauel.
c. 1300. Beket, 1749. Seint Thomas athuld the lettre.
2. To detain, restrain (a person).
a. 1230. Ancr. R., 374. Bitternesse of þisse liue … ethalt ham urom blisse.
c. 1314. Guy Warw., 6. He gan to … wepe with his eyghen therfore. He him might no lenge at held.
3. To keep (a thing) in one’s possession, to retain.
c. 1200. Trin. Coll. Hom., 63. Þat we ne athelde none [synne] on ure heorte.
a. 1230. Ancr. R., 286. God haueð etholden to him sulf … wurðschipe & wreche.
c. 1330. Florice & Bl., 367. Thou shalt … Thi golde cop with þe at holde.
4. To keep, retain (a person) in attendance.
c. 1200. Trin. Coll. Hom., 123. Gode menisshe … he [God] understant and mid him athalt.
1297. R. Glouc., 124. Þo kyng of hys men at huld wuche he wolde.
c. 1330. Arth. & Merl., 618. This clerkes … With the king weren at held.
5. To keep in existence, maintain, preserve.
c. 1220. Hali Meid., 13. And iþis world … athalt hire burðe ilicnesse of heuenliche cunde.
1250. Lay., 769. Somme he sloh, somme he bond, Þe beste he cwic at-heold.
6. To keep in consideration, observe, give heed to.
c. 1175. Lamb. Hom., 47. Þeoþe ihereð godes weordes and heom athaldeð.
c. 1250. Owl & Night., 392. The niȝtingale in hire thoȝte At-hold al this.
c. 1275. Passion our Lord, 364, in O. E. Misc., 47. I-hereþ myne word, And heo wel atholdeþ.
7. To lay fast hold of, put under arrest.
a. 1230. St. Juliana, 41. Ich hit am þat sum chearre wes þurh þe wise Salomon ethalden [v.r. feste bitunet].
c. 1275. Passion our Lord, 535, in O. E. Misc., 52. Nu wolden heo [þe gywes] hyne at-holden þat scop alle þing.
