hold
UK: həʊld | US: hoʊld
v. to grasp or carry something
v. to contain or possess
v. to maintain a position or condition
n. an act of grasping or controlling
n. a storage compartment (e.g., ship's hold)
The word "hold" traces back to Old English healdan, meaning "to grasp, keep, or retain." It shares roots with Germanic languages (e.g., German halten, Dutch houden), all deriving from Proto-Germanic haldaną. The core idea of "grasping" expanded metaphorically to include abstract senses like "possessing" or "maintaining control." Its nautical usage (ship's hold) emerged from the concept of "a space to keep cargo."
She held the baby gently in her arms.
This bottle can hold up to two liters of water.
The team managed to hold their lead until the end.
He lost his hold on the rope and fell.
The ship's hold was filled with supplies.