hold on
    v 1: hold firmly [syn: grasp, hold on]
    2: stop and wait, as if awaiting further instructions or
       developments; "Hold on a moment!" [syn: hold on, 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, hold on]
    4: hold the phone line open; "Please hang on while I get your
       folder" [syn: hang on, hold the line, hold on]
    5: retain possession of; "Can I keep my old stuffed animals?";
       "She kept her maiden name after she married" [syn: keep,
       hold on] [ant: lose]

Hold \Hold\, v. i.
   In general, to keep one's self in a given position or
   condition; to remain fixed. Hence:
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   1. Not to move; to halt; to stop; -- mostly in the
      imperative.
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            And damned be him that first cries, "Hold, enough!"
                                                  --Shak.
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   2. Not to give way; not to part or become separated; to
      remain unbroken or unsubdued.
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            Our force by land hath nobly held.    --Shak.
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   3. Not to fail or be found wanting; to continue; to last; to
      endure a test or trial; to abide; to persist.
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            While our obedience holds.            --Milton.
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            The rule holds in land as all other commodities.
                                                  --Locke.
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   4. Not to fall away, desert, or prove recreant; to remain
      attached; to cleave; -- often with with, to, or for.
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            He will hold to the one and despise the other.
                                                  --Matt. vi. 24
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   5. To restrain one's self; to refrain.
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            His dauntless heart would fain have held
            From weeping, but his eyes rebelled.  --Dryden.
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   6. To derive right or title; -- generally with of.
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            My crown is absolute, and holds of none. --Dryden.
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            His imagination holds immediately from nature.
                                                  --Hazlitt.
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   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.
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