Keep

A strong tower or hold in the middle of any castle or fortification, wherein the besieged make their last efforts of defense, was formerly, in England, called a "keep"; and the inner pile within the castle of Dover, erected by King Henry II. about the year 1153, was termed the "King's Keep"; so at Windsor, etc. It seems to be something of the same nature with what is called abroad a "citadel." Jacob.

To heed; observe; regard; attend to. When it Is said that a certain man keeps a woman, the popular inference is, that the relation is one which involves illicit intercourse; Downing v. Wilson, 36 Ala. 717. See Barrett v. R. Co., 3 Allen (Mass.) 101; Cummings V. Riley, 52 N. H. 368, To keep a street in safe condition, means to have it j so; to make and remake it so; City of Atlanta V. Buchanan, 76 Ga. 585. To keep j premised in repair is to have them at all times in that condition; 1 B. & Aid. 585. Keep down interest. To pay interest periodically as it becomes due, but the phrase does not extend to the payment of all arrears of interest which may have become due on any security from the time when the instrument was executed. 4 El. & Bl. 211.

v. 1. To retain in one's power or possession; not to lose or part with; to preserve or retain. Benson v. New York, 10 Barb. (N. Y.) 235; Deans v. Gay, 132 N. O. 227, 43 S. E. 64?. 2. To maintain, carry on, conduct, or manage; as, to "keep" a liquor saloon, bawdy house, gaming table, nuisance, inn, or hotel. State v. Irvin, 117 Iowa, 469, 91 N. W. 760; Pcople v. Rice, 103 Mich. 350, 61 N. W. 540; State v. Miller, 68 Conn. 33, 36 Atl. 795; State v. Cox, 52 Vt. 474. 3. To maintain, tend, harbor, feed, and shelter; as, to "keep" a dangerous animal, to "keep" a horse at livery. Allen v. Ham, 63 Me. 536; Skinner v. Caughey, 64 Minn. 375, 67 N. W. 203. 4. To maintain continuously and methodically for the purposes of a record; as, to "keep" books. See Backus v. Richardson, 5 Johns. (N. Y.) 483. 5. To maintain continuously and without stoppage or variation; as, when a vessel is said to "keep her course," that is, continue in motion in the same general direction in which she was previously sailing. See The Britannia, 153 U. S. 130, 14 Sup. Ct. 795, 38 L. Ed. 660.
—Keep down interest. The expression "keeping down interest" is familiar in legal instruments, and means the payment of interest periodically as it becomes due; but it does not include the payment of all arrears of interest which may have become due on any security from the time when it was executed. 4 El. & BI. 211.
—Keep house. The English bankrupt laws use the phrase "keeping house" to denote an act of bankruptcy. It is committed when a trader absents himself from his place of business and retires to his private residence to evade the importunity of creditore. The usual evidence of "keeping house" is refusal to see a creditor who has called on the debtor at his house for money. Robs. Bankr. 119.
—Keep iu repair. When a lessee is bound to keep the premises in repair, he must have them in repair at all times during the term ; and, if they are at any time out of repair, he is guilty of a breach of the covenant. 1 Barn. & Aid. 585.
—Keep open. To allow general access to one's shop, for purposes of traffic, is a violation of a statute forbidding him to "keep open" his shop on the Lord's day, although the outer entrances are closed. Com. v. Harrison, 11 Grav (Mass.) 308. To "keep open," in the sense of such a law, implies a readiness to carry on the usual business in the store, shop, saloon, etc. Lynch v. Pcople, 16 Mich. 472
—Keeping term. In English law. A duty performed by students of law, consisting in eating a sufficient number of dinners in hall to make the term count for the purpose of being called to the bar. Mozley 6 Whitley.
—Keeping the peace. Avoiding a breach of the peace; dissuading or preventing others from breaking the 'peace.

To maintain; to retain; to harbor; to have in possession. Keep house: as applied to a trader, to secrete one's self in one's house to avoid one's creditors. Keep liquor: to have in possession, with intent to sell. Keep opeu: as applied to a shop or saloon, to allow general access, though the entrance is closed, for the purposes of traffic.

A strong tower or hold in the middie of any castle or fortification, wherein the besieged make their last efforts of defense, was formerly, in England, called a “keep;” und the inner pile within the castle of Dover, erected by King Henry II. about the year 1153, was termed the “ King’s Keap;” so ab Windsor, ete. It seems to be something of the same nature with what is called abroad a “citadel.” Jacob.

Varies in meaning with the connections in -which it is found — the context or circumstances. Keep a gaming table. Implies a use not merely temporary. 2 Keep a nuisanoe. See Maintain. Keep a woman.

In popular acceptation, imports an illicit i-elation.s Keep an inn. Keep a house for the entertainment of travelers and others, for pay.* Keep down interest. Pay interest periodically as it becomes due.' Keep house. May be said of a trader who secretes himself in his house to avoid his creditors. 6 Keep in repair. See Eepaik. ' Keep liquor. Keeping spirituous liquor for sale is having possession and control of it with intent and readiness to make a sale or sales., This may be a long-continued practice or it may be instantaneous.' Keep open. Implies a readiness to carry on the usual business in a store, saloon, eto.8 To allow general access, for purposes of traffic,, although the outer entrance is closed. 9 Keep the peace. To avoid disturbing the peace; to prevent others from breaking the peace. Keeper. 1. A person placed in charge of attached personalty, i" 1 Steph. PI. S34; 3 Bl. Com. 306. 2 United States v. Smith, 4 Cranch, C. C. 660-63 (1836). ' Downing v. Wilson, 36 Ala. 719 (1830). < [State V. Stone, 6 Vt. 298 (1834). s Regina v. Hutchinson, 82 E. C. L. *211 (1854). » Gumming v. Baily, 6 Bing. *370 (1830).. 'State V. Haney, 68 N. H. 379 1878). "Lynch v. People, 16 Mich. 477 (1868). 2. One who assists in superintending a gamin g-house.i See Disoedeely House. 8. One who harbors a dog upon his premises is responsible, as keeper of the animal, for injuries done by him. 2 4. Owner, proprietor. See Inn; Liverystable; Saloon. Keeper of the Icing's conscience. The lord chancellor — formerly an ecclesiastic. Keeper of the seal. See Seal, 1.