secure and keep for possible future use or application, allow to remain in a place or position or maintain a property or feature, keep in one's mind, transitive To continue to hold; to keep in possession; not to lose, part with, or dismiss; to restrain from departure, escape, or the like, To keep in pay; to employ by a preliminary fee paid; to hire; to engage, To hire someone for (his or her services), intransitive obsolete To belong; to pertain, obsolete To keep; to continue; to remain