uphold

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   To hold up; to lift on high; to elevate.

   The mournful train/ Echoed her grief, [...]/ With groans, and hands upheld, to move his mind, /Besought his pity to their helpless kind

2. 2
   verb

   To keep erect; to support; to sustain; to keep from falling

   A man's pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit.

3. 3
   verb

   To support by approval or encouragement; to vindicate; to confirm (something which has been questioned)

   but there was still a connexion upheld among the different ideas, which succeeded each other.

4. 4
   verb

   stand up for

5. 5
   verb

   support against an opponent

6. 6
   verb

   keep or maintain in unaltered condition

7. 7
   name

   A surname.

Etymology

From Middle English upholden, equivalent to up- + hold. Compare Dutch ophouden (“to stop, cease, hold up”), German aufhalten (“to stop, halt, detain”). Compare also Middle Low German upholt, Old Norse upphald (“uphold, support”).