Definitions

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • verb transitive, archaic To retain.
  • verb intransitive To hold off; prevent; refrain; avoid; shun.

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From Middle English ofholden, from Old English ofhealdan ("to withhold, retain"), equivalent to off- +‎ hold. Cognate with Dutch afhouden ("to detain, deter"), German abhalten ("to discourage, prevent, deter").

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Examples

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