The great mainstay of the Church.
Buckle.
Main"swear` (?), v. i. [AS. mnswerian to forswear; mn sin, crime +
swerian to swear.] To swear falsely. [Obs.] Blount.
Main*tain (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Maintained (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
Maintaining.] [OE. maintenen, F. maintenir, properly, to hold by the
hand; main hand (L. manus) + F. tenir to hold (L. tenere). See Manual,
and Tenable.] 1. To hold or keep in any particular state or condition;
to support; to sustain; to uphold; to keep up; not to suffer to fail or
decline; as, to maintain a certain degree of heat in a furnace; to
maintain a fence or a railroad; to maintain the digestive process or
powers of the stomach; to maintain the fertility of soil; to maintain
present reputation.
2. To keep possession of; to hold and defend; not to surrender or
relinquish.
God values . . . every one as he maintains his post.
Grew.