Hold, v. i. In general, to keep one's self in a given position or condition; to remain fixed. Hence:
 1. Not to move; to halt; to stop; -- mostly in the imperative.
    And damned be him that first cries, =\“Hold, enough!”\=   --Shak.
 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. 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. 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. To restrain one's self; to refrain.
 His dauntless heart would fain have held
 From weeping, but his eyes rebelled.   --Dryden.
 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. [Collog]
 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 To hold 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.


 hold on
      v 1: hold firmly [syn: grasp]
      2: stop and wait, as if awaiting further instructions or
         developments; "Hold on a moment!" [syn: stop]
      3: be persistent, refuse to stop; "he persisted to call me
         every night"; "The child persisted and kept asking
         questions" [syn: persevere, persist, hang in, {hang
         on]
      4: hold the phone line open; "Please hang on while I get your
         folder" [syn: hang on, hold the line]
      5: retain possession of; "Can I keep my old stuffed animals?";
         "She kept her maiden name after she married" [syn: keep]
         [ant: lose]