maintain

Where does the word "maintain" come from? It comes from Latin manu tenere, passing through Old French before entering English (1300s).

Maintain’s story begins in Latin: manu tenere meant “to hold by hand.” Literally to hold by hand, from manus (hand) and tenere (to hold). By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as maintenir. Carried into French for keeping something in a steady state. It reached English by 1300s as maintain. Settled as the English word for keeping something in good condition. Today, maintain means to keep something in good condition, or to continue a state or activity.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient manu tenere "to hold by hand", literally to hold by hand, from manus (hand) and tenere (to hold).
2. Stage 2 · Old French · medieval maintenir "to keep something in a steady state", carried into French for keeping something in a steady state.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1300s maintain "to keep something in good condition, or to continue it", settled as the English word for keeping something in good condition.