HOLD (3)

hold (3). Hold, exclam. stop! stay! cease! leave off! forbear

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Hold, v. i. In general, to keep one's self in a given position or condition; to remain fixed. Hence: 1. 1. Not to move; to halt; to stop; — mostly in the imperative.
And damned be him that first cries, “Hold, enough!” Shak. 2. 2. Not to give way; not to part or become separated; to remain unbroken or unsubdued.
Our force by land hath nobly held. Shak. 3. 3. Not to fail or be found wanting; to continue; to last; to endure a test or trial; to abide; to persist.
While our obedience holds. Milton. The rule holds in land as all other commodities. Locke. 4. 4. Not to fall away, desert, or prove recreant; to remain attached; to cleave; — often with with, to, or for.
He will hold to the one and despise the other. Matt. vi. 24 5. 5. To restrain one's self; to refrain.
His dauntless heart would fain have held From weeping, but his eyes rebelled. Dryden. 6. 6. To derive right or title; — generally with of.
My crown is absolute, and holds of none. Dryden. His imagination holds immediately from nature. Hazlitt. Hold on! Hold up! wait; stop; forbear. — To hold forth, to speak in public; to harangue; to preach. L'Estrange. — To hold in, to restrain one's self; as, he wanted to laugh and could hardly hold in. — To hold off, to keep at a distance. — To hold on, to keep fast hold; to continue; to go on. “The trade held on for many years,” Swift. — To hold out, to last; to endure; to continue; to maintain one's self; not to yield or give way. — To hold over, to remain in office, possession, etc., beyond a certain date. — To hold to or with, to take sides with, as a person or opinion. — To hold together, to be joined; not to separate; to remain in union. Dryden. Locke. — To hold up. (a) To support one's self; to remain unbent or unbroken; as, to hold up under misfortunes. (b) To cease raining; to cease to stop; as, it holds up. Hudibras. (c) To keep up; not to fall behind; not to lose ground. Collier.