Hold
/hoʊld/noun
To grasp, carry, or support something with one's hands or arms.
Did you know?In many ancient cultures, the act of holding was linked to binding spirits or energies, giving the word a mystical power over the unseen.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*kʷeldʰ-
“To embrace, to clasp.”
Ancient Greek
Greek
ἁρπάζω (harpázo)
“To seize or snatch away.”
Old English
Old English
healdan
“To keep, to guard, or to maintain.”
14th Century
Middle English
holden
“To possess or keep in one's grasp.”
Modern English
English
hold
“To have or maintain in a specified position.”