maintenance

B1 Topic:Tools, Machines & Construction

US /ˈmeɪnt(ə)nəns/ See IPA manual

Freq #6387

Meanings

1

noun
The work of keeping a machine, building, or system in good condition.

Regular maintenance keeps the engine running smoothly.
2

noun
Money paid regularly to support a person or family, especially after a separation.

The court ordered him to pay maintenance for his two children.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · the work of keeping a... care upkeep

2 noun · money paid regularly to... alimonysupport

Word family

Derived forms automaintenancehigh-maintenancelow-maintenancemaintenance-freenonmaintenancepostmaintenancepremaintenancetelemaintenanceundermaintenance

Etymology

From Middle English mayntenaunce, from Old French maintenance, from maintenir, from Latin manus tenēre (“to hold in the hand”). By surface analysis, maintain + -ance. Note that maintain has undergone a sound and spelling change, hence is spelt with -tain-, rather than the -ten- still found in maintenance.

*ten- Proto-Indo-European mayntenaunce Middle English maintenance Old French

View etymology graph ->

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# maintenance

**Type:** Word
**Level:** B1
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /ˈmeɪnt(ə)nəns/
**Frequency rank:** 6387

## Meanings
1. The work of keeping a machine, building, or system in good condition.
2. Money paid regularly to support a person or family, especially after a separation.

## Examples
- Regular maintenance keeps the engine running smoothly.
- The court ordered him to pay maintenance for his two children.

## Derived Forms
- automaintenance
- high-maintenance
- low-maintenance
- maintenance-free
- nonmaintenance
- postmaintenance
- premaintenance
- telemaintenance
- undermaintenance

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: *ten-
- Root: mayntenaunce
- Root: maintenance

## Etymology
From Middle English mayntenaunce, from Old French maintenance, from maintenir, from Latin manus tenēre (“to hold in the hand”). By surface analysis, maintain + -ance. Note that maintain has undergone a sound and spelling change, hence is spelt with -tain-, rather than the -ten- still found in maintenance.

## AI Etymology
Maintenance comes from Middle English mayntenaunce, from Old French maintenance, from maintenir, from Latin manus tenēre (“to hold in the hand”). By surface analysis, maintain + -ance. Note that maintain has undergone a sound and spelling change, hence is spelt with -tain-, rather than the -ten- still found in maintenance. In present-day English its meanings include the work of keeping a machine, building, or system in good condition and money paid regularly to support a person or family, especially after a separation. The historical chain runs through *ten- (Proto-Indo-European), mayntenaunce (Middle English), and maintenance (Old French). Related and derived forms include automaintenance, high-maintenance, and low-maintenance.

## Topics
- Tools, Machines & Construction

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maintenance

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