maintained
English meaning: Maintained
Definition
To support (someone), to back up or assist (someone) in an action.
Example
“The council maintained the roads in excellent condition.”
Another example: “Throughout the trial, she maintained that she was innocent.”
Usage — When, Where & How
Neutral and common; past tense of 'maintain', meaning to keep in good condition (maintained the roads), to keep up (maintained contact), or to assert firmly (he maintained his innocence). Used in everyday, technical, and formal writing.
Etymology & Origin
English — Origin & History
From Old French 'maintenir' (to hold in the hand, support), from Latin 'manu tenere' (to hold in the hand); entered English in the 13th century.
Synonyms
- preserved
- retained
- serviceable
- well-kept
- repaired
- serviced
- kept up
Antonyms / Opposites
- neglected
- abandoned
Related Words
- innocence
- correspondence
- contacts
- transportation
- ties
- relations
- friendship
- links
- recreation
- diplomatic
Common Collocations
- maintained contact
- well maintained
- maintained his innocence
- maintained order
- carefully maintained
- maintained that
Word Forms
maintain (v); maintained; maintains; maintaining; maintenance (n)
Word Tools
Literary Heritage
“To thine own self be true, and it must follow, as the night the day, thou canst not then be false to any man.”
/To thine own self be true/
“Be honest with yourself — and as naturally as night follows day, you will be unable to be false to others.”
“I'm nobody! Who are you? Are you nobody, too?”
/I'm nobody! Who are you?/
“I am nobody — and that quiet anonymity is more honest than the noise of public fame.”
Images
CC-licensed · free to useVideo
Language information
- Language
- English
- English
- Script
- Latin
- Family
- Indo-European
- Speakers
- 1.5B