Verb. (old and American).—1. To abide.
1593. Shakspeare, Titus Andr., v. 2, 5. Knock at his study where,
they say, he keeps.
1613. Browne, Brit. Past., I. iv. p. 87. The high top’d firres
which on that mountain keepe, Have ever since that time beene seene
to weepe.
1626. C. More, Life & Death of Sir Thomas More. ‘Letter to Dean
Colet’. Yff the discommodities of the cittie doe, as they may very
well, displease you, yet may the countrie about your parish of
Stepney afforde you the like delights which that affordes you
wherein now you keepe.
1633. Fletcher, Purple Island, v. 25. Here stands the palace of the
noblest sense, Here Visus keeps, whose court than crystal smoother,
And clearer seems.
d. 1656. Hall, Satires, v. p. 86. Would it not vex thee, where thy
sires did keep, To see the dunged folds of dag-tail’d sheep?
1742–3. Pope, Dunciad, iv. 307. But chief her shrine where naked
Venus keeps, And Cupids ride the Lion of the deeps.
1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. Keep, to inhabit; Lord, where do
you keep, i.e. where are your rooms (academical phrase).
1790. Winthrop, Hist. New England, I. 72. The Tarentines ... rifled
a wigwam where Mr. Cradock’s men kept.
1795. Gentleman’s Magazine, p. 118. He said I ought to have asked
for his rooms, or inquired where he kept.
1866. M. Arnold, Thyrsis. But yet he could not keep Here with the
shepherds and the silly sheep.