hold
UK[həʊld]US[hoʊld]
v
to have or keep something in your hand, arms, etc.
v
to contain or be able to contain something.
v
to have a particular job, position, or title.
v
to organize and have an event.
n
the action of holding something.
n
a place where a ship or aircraft is kept.
Etymology
The word 'hold' descends directly from the Old English verb healdan, a strong verb of the seventh class. Its Proto-Germanic ancestor is haldaną, which carried the core senses of "to keep, tend, guard." This, in turn, traces back to the Proto-Indo-European root kel-, meaning "to drive, set in motion," a root also linked to concepts of tending livestock. The semantic journey from the ancient idea of "driving" or "tending" animals evolved into the more general concepts of "keeping" and "grasping" in the hand, and further abstracted to include meanings like "possessing," "containing," and "maintaining a position or opinion." Its endurance as a fundamental, unanalyzable simplex word reflects its deep-rooted status in the core vocabulary of English.
Analysis
This is a simplex word of Germanic origin. The core root is from Old English healdan, meaning "to keep, tend, guard; retain; rule; observe." It functions as a base verb and noun in Modern English.
Examples
She was holding a large bouquet of flowers.
This bottle holds two liters of water.
He has held the position of manager for five years.