Lexic.us

Definition of Keep back

1. Verb. Keep under control; keep in check. "Keep your cool"

2. Verb. Secure and keep for possible future use or application. "They keep back the money "; "I reserve the right to disagree"

3. Verb. Hold back; refuse to hand over or share. "They keep back the money "; "The father is withholding the allowance until the son cleans his room"

Lexicographical Neighbors of Keep Back

keep a close watch on keep a cool head keep a lid on keep a lookout keep a weather eye open keep abreast keep an eye on keep an eye open keep an eye out keep an eye peeled

keep apart keep around keep at keep away keep away from keep back (current term) keep bees keep coming keep company keep down

keep faith keep fit keep from keep going keep guard keep hope alive keep house keep in keep in line keep in mind

Literary usage of Keep back

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. An Elementary Latin Dictionary by Charlton Thomas Lewis, Hugh Macmaster Kingery (1918)
"Fig., to retard, repress, check, keep back, avert, ... ere [re- + teneo], to hold back, keep back, keep, detain, retain, restrain: me, T. : concilium ..."

2. The Annals of Tennessee to the End of the Eighteenth Century: Comprising Its by James Gettys McGready Ramsey (1853)
"White pretended that he must keep back his troops, lest their animosity should break out, and an indiscriminate slaughter take place, in defiance of his ..."

3. The Analytical Hebrew and Chaldee Lexicon: Consisting of an Alphabetical ...by Benjamin Davidson by Benjamin Davidson (1848)
"... const with ace., ]D of the thing from which.—II. to save, preserve, deliver, const, id.—III. to withhold, const, id.—IV. to spare, keep back. Niph. ..."

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