maintain

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition

1. v. To keep up or carry on; continue: maintain good relations.
2. v. To keep in an existing state; preserve or retain: maintain one's composure.
3. v. To keep in a condition of good repair or efficiency: maintain two cars.
4. v. To provide for; support: maintain a family.
5. v. To keep in existence; sustain: enough food to maintain life.
6. v. To defend or hold against criticism or attack: maintained his stand on taxes.
7. v. To declare to be true; affirm: maintained her innocence.
8. v. To adhere or conform to; keep: maintain a busy schedule.

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

1. To hold in an existing state or condition; keep in existence or continuance; preserve from lapse, decline, failure, or cessation; keep up: as, to maintain an upright attitude; to maintain a conversation.
2. To furnish means for the subsistence or existence of; sustain or assist with the means of livelihood; provide for; support: as, to maintain a family or an army; to maintain a costly equipage.
3. To hold fast; keep in possession; preserve from capture or loss: as, to maintain one's ground in battle or in argument; to maintain an advantage.
4. To give support or encouragement to; uphold; countenance; vindicate, as by defense or adjudication.
5. To uphold by argument or assertion; hold to: as, to maintain the doctrine of the Trinity.
6. To represent; denote.
7. Synonyms and Defend, Vindicate, etc. See assert.
8. To behave; conduct one's self.
9. 2. To hold as true; hold.

GNU Webster's 1913

1. v. To hold or keep in any particular state or condition; to support; to sustain; to uphold; to keep up; not to suffer to fail or decline
2. v. To keep possession of; to hold and defend; not to surrender or relinquish.
3. v. To continue; not to suffer to cease or fail.
4. v. To bear the expense of; to support; to keep up; to supply with what is needed.
5. v. To affirm; to support or defend by argument.

WordNet 3.0

1. v. stick to correctly or closely
2. v. have and exercise
3. v. support against an opponent
4. v. maintain by writing regular records
5. v. keep in safety and protect from harm, decay, loss, or destruction
6. v. state categorically
7. v. maintain for use and service
8. v. supply with necessities and support
9. v. state or assert
10. v. keep in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g.,