2. To keep possession of; to hold and defend; not to surrender or relinquish.
God values . . . every one as he maintains his post.
Grew. 3. To continue; not to suffer to cease or fail.
Maintain talk with the duke.
Shak. 4. To bear the expense of; to support; to keep up; to supply with what is needed.
Glad, by his labor, to maintain his life.
Stirling.
What maintains one vice would bring up two children.
Franklin. 5. To affirm; to support or defend by argument.
It is hard to maintain the truth, but much harder to be maintained by it.
South. Syn. — To assert; vindicate; allege. See Assert.
Maintainable
(Main*tain"a*ble) a. That may be maintained.
Maintainer
(Main*tain"er) n. One who maintains.
Maintainor
(Main*tain"or) n. [OF. mainteneor, F. mainteneur.] (Crim. Law) One who, not being interested,
maintains a cause depending between others, by furnishing money, etc., to either party. Bouvier. Wharton.
Maintenance
(Main"te*nance) n. [OF. maintenance. See Maintain.]
1. The act of maintaining; sustenance; support; defense; vindication.
Whatsoever is granted to the church for God's honor and the maintenance of his service, is granted to
God.
South. 2. That which maintains or supports; means of sustenance; supply of necessaries and conveniences.
Those of better fortune not making learning their maintenance.
Swift. 3. (Crim. Law) An officious or unlawful intermeddling in a cause depending between others, by assisting
either party with money or means to carry it on. See Champerty. Wharton.
Cap of maintenance. See under Cap.
Maintop
(Main"top`) n. (Naut.) The platform about the head of the mainmast in square-rigged vessels.
Main yard
(Main" yard`) (Naut.) The yard on which the mainsail is extended, supported by the mainmast.
Maioid
(Mai"oid) a. [Maia + - oid.] (Zoöl.) Of or pertaining to the genus Maia, or family Maiadeæ.
Maister
(Mais"ter) n. Master. [Obs.] Chaucer. Spenser.
Maister
(Mais"ter), a. Principal; chief. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Maistre
(Mais"tre Mais"trie, Mais"try) , n. Mastery; superiority; art. See Mastery. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Maistress
(Mais"tress) n. Mistress. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Maithes
(Mai"thes) n. (Bot.) Same as Maghet.
