# maintain

Pronunciation: say "mayn-TAYN" /meɪnˈteɪn/

## Verb

1. To keep something in the same state or condition; to preserve or uphold it.
   - Simple: To keep something the same so it does not change or get worse.
   - _Governments work hard to maintain order during a crisis._
   - _He maintained his composure even as the bad news kept arriving._
2. To keep something in good condition and working order through regular care.
   - Simple: To take care of something so that it keeps working well.
   - _The city pays crews to maintain the bridges and tunnels._
   - _Technicians maintained the aircraft engines according to a strict schedule._
3. To declare or affirm something to be true; to assert it firmly.
   - Simple: To say firmly that something is true, even when other people disagree.
   - _The witness maintained that she had seen the suspect leave._
   - _Critics maintain the policy will do more harm than good._
4. To provide for a person or household financially by meeting the costs of food, housing, and other necessities.
   - Simple: To pay for the food, home, and other things a person or family needs to live.
   - _Few factory workers in the town earned enough to maintain a family of five._
   - _On a teacher's salary, she maintained herself and her younger brother through his college years._

## Verb

5. To stand behind someone and help or support them in what they are doing. *(obsolete)*
   - Simple: To support someone, or to help them in what they are trying to do.

## Origin

It comes from Middle English mayntenen, from Old French maintenir, which goes back to Late Latin manūteneō ('I support'). This was formed from Latin manū ('with the hand') and tenēre ('to hold').

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/maintain (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).