keepingn.
/ˈkiːpɪŋ/ The action of keep v. in various senses.
I. From transitive senses of the verb.† 6. Confinement, imprisonment; prison. Obsolete.
1. Observance of a rule, command, ordinance, institution, practice, promise, etc.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > carrying out > observance or carrying out a promise, law, etc. > [noun]
fulfilling1340
keepingc1380
observancea1393
observation?a1425
solemnityc1440
observing1458
conservation1544
observancy1609
the mind > language > speech > agreement > observance > [noun]
i-kepyngec1230
heed1357
keepingc1380
observancea1393
observation?a1425
contemplation1440
observing1458
conscience1483
conservation1544
heedfulness1561
heediness1596
religion1597
observancy1609
punctualness1620
punctuality1622
heeding1678
adherence1715
society > authority > subjection > obedience > [noun] > obedience to rule(s) > action or fact of
keepingc1380
the mind > language > speech > agreement > observance > [noun] > religious, ceremonial, etc.
observancea1450
keeping1573
phylactery1645
c1380 J. Wyclif Sel. Wks. III. 350 Keping of Goddis mandementis.
1473–4 Act 12 & 13 Edw. IV in Rolls Parl. VI. 33/2 The kepyng of assise of Brede, Wyne, and Ale.
1573 Reg. St. Andrews Kirk Sess. (1889–90) 389 Be superstitius keping of Ȝwill-day halyday.
1678 N. Wanley Wonders Little World v. iii. §15. 474/1 The controversie about the keeping of Easter.
2. † c. A flock (of sheep). Cf. herd n.1 Obsolete. rare.
a. The action, task, or office of looking after, guarding, defending, taking care of, etc.; custody, charge, guardianship.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > safety > protection or defence > care, protection, or charge > [noun]
lookingc1300
keepingc1380
charge1389
keepa1400
procuration?a1425
charchec1426
tuition1436
recommendation1483
fostera1500
sussy1513
carec1540
overlooking1565
regard1596
overview1598
accurance1677
protectiveness1847
protectingness1852
c1380 J. Wyclif Wks. (1880) 21 God almyȝty takiþ so gret kepyng of smale briddis [etc.].
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 20106 Þan name þe apostil..In-til his keping, þat maidan.
c1440 Gesta Romanorum (Add. MS.) i. xxxv. 357 The porter said, ‘have kepyng of thi self’.
c1515 Ld. Berners tr. Bk. Duke Huon of Burdeux (1882–7) lx. 209 We that hath this place in kepinge are frenchemen.
1651 T. Hobbes Leviathan iii. xl. 25 The Book of the Law was in their Keeping.
a1735 J. Arbuthnot John Bull iii. xxi. in Misc. Wks. (1751) II. 92 As upright as a new Chancellor, who has the keeping of the King's Conscience.
1860 J. Tyndall Glaciers of Alps i. xviii. 126 To hand over your impressions to the safe keeping of memory.
b. Guard, defence. on (at, of, upon) one's keeping, on one's guard. Obsolete exc. dialect.
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > defence > [noun]
weringa1300
warrantise?a1400
keepinga1425
defension?a1439
defendancec1450
werea1878
the world > action or operation > safety > protection or defence > watching or keeping guard > [noun]
holda1100
witiing13..
keepinga1425
ampare1587
guard1596
warding1633
advigilation1663
watch-care1845
wardening1962
watchdogging1962
the world > action or operation > safety > protection or defence > vigilance > vigilant or on one's guard [phrase]
on warec893
on (also upon) one's guard1574
on (at, of, upon) one's keeping1590
on, upon (the) watch1719
on (also upon) the qui vive1726
on the alert1795
on one's toes1921
a1425 (c1395) Bible (Wycliffite, L.V.) (Royal) (1850) Jer. li. 12 Encreese ȝe kepyng, reise ȝe keperis.
c1425 Eng. Conq. Irel. 52 Amorow þay lefte good kypynge yn the syte.
1523 Ld. Berners tr. J. Froissart Cronycles I. cxxxix. 167 Than she..sette good kepyng ouer them.
1590 E. Spenser Faerie Queene i. xi. sig. K7 Henceforth bee it your keeping well.
a1604 M. Hanmer Chron. Ireland 139 in J. Ware Two Hist. Ireland (1633) More upon their keeping, to prevent treachery.
1668 Ormonde MSS in 10th Rep. Royal Comm. Hist. MSS (1885) App. v. 71 Some actions..put your petitioner on his keeping.
1898 Kath. Tynan in Westm. Gaz. 12 Oct. 1/3 He was already, as they say in Ireland, ‘on his keeping’; that is to say, a hunted man.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > mammals > group Ungulata (hoofed) > group Ruminantia (sheep, goats, cows, etc.) > genus Ovus > [noun] > Ovus Aries (domestic sheep) > flock of
eowdeOE
hirsel1366
shallow1550
sheepfold1590
oviary1623
keepinga1642
a1642 H. Best Farming & Memorandum Bks. (1984) 3 A flock, a keepinge, or a folde of sheepe.
d. Cricket. Wicket-keeping.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > cricket > fielding > [noun] > wicketkeeping
wicket-keeping1826
keeping1868
1868 in W. A. Bettesworth Walkers of Southgate (1900) 291 Stephenson's ‘keeping’ was also first-rate.
1920 P. F. Warner Cricket Reminisc. 156 His [sc. Blackham's] keeping to Mr. Spofforth with the 1878 Australian XI. was a revelation.
2011 Wisden Cricketers' Almanack (ed. 148) 263 [Matt Prior's] keeping went unnoticed, which was the highest compliment.
3. The taking care of a thing or person; the giving of attention so as to maintain in good order or condition; the state or condition in which a thing is kept.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > safety > protection or defence > care, protection, or charge > [noun] > care for or looking after
keepingc1330
nursing?1533
looking after?1537
tendance1580
tendment1597
caretaking1765
tendancya1774
caringa1797
mothering1868
the world > action or operation > safety > protection or defence > preservation from injury or destruction > [noun] > preservation in being or maintenance > preserving in proper condition
keepingc1330
upholdinga1350
maintaininga1387
maintenance1389
reparation1389
uphold1471
maintain1483
repair1524
keep1763
upkeep1884
upkeeping1899
preventive maintenance1937
c1330 R. Mannyng Chron. Wace (Rolls) 14887 Giue Englische men euen kepynge, Mete & drynke, & oþer þynge.
1468 Chron. Eng. in Hearne R. Glouc. (1724) 482 His hondes..shewethe sumwhat vnwyt and necclygence, for he vtterliche leueth the kepyng of hem.
1523 in W. L. Nash Churchwardens' Acct. Bk. St. Giles, Reading (1851) 19 Paid for kepyng of the clok iijs iijd.
?1523 J. Fitzherbert Bk. Husbandry f. xxxvv Craches is a sorance woll cause a horse to haulte and cometh of yll kepyng.
1603 G. Owen Descr. Penbrokshire (1891) 280 Farre exceeding anye of the companie for stature, and good keapinge.
1712 J. James tr. A.-J. Dézallier d'Argenville Theory & Pract. Gardening 68 This Keeping consists in mowing the Grass often.
1880 Ann. Rep. Royal Hort. Soc. 5 The Garden..in the highest state of keeping which the means of the Society allowed.
4. The maintaining of a state or condition.
ΘΚΠ
the world > time > change > absence of change, changelessness > maintaining state or condition > [noun]
maintenancec1390
sustentation1425
keepingc1430
conservationc1447
sustenation1496
maintainment?c1500
intertenure1537
containing1567
sustainment1568
maintain1599
manutention1603
manutenency?1630
continuance1691
conservancy1884
c1430 Life St. Kath. (1884) 35 To lese þe name and croune of ȝoure profession by kepynge of silence.
c1480 (a1400) St. John Baptist 14 in W. M. Metcalfe Legends Saints Sc. Dial. (1896) II. 223 Angele als callit wes he, fore kepyng of verginite.
1548 Hall's Vnion: Henry VI f. clxx Exhort them to ye..kepyng of good order within the citie.
1596 J. Dalrymple tr. J. Leslie Hist. Scotl. (1888) I. 261 Beneuolent keiping of kyndnes, cumpanie, and freindschip.
5.
a. Maintenance, sustenance with food; food, fodder; = keep n. 6c.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > food > [noun]
meateOE
eatOE
foodOE
fodderOE
dietc1230
gista1290
victual1303
victualsa1375
preya1382
feedinga1398
pasturea1398
viancea1400
viandsc1400
livingc1405
meatingc1425
vitalyc1440
vianda1450
cates1461
vivers1536
viandry1542
viander1543
gut-matter1549
peck1567
belly-cheer1579
appast1580
manchet1583
chat1584
belly-metal1590
repasture1598
cibaries1599
belly-timber1607
belly-cheat1608
peckage1610
victuallage1622
keeping1644
vivresa1650
crib1652
prog1655
grub1659
beef1661
fooding1663
teething1673
eatablea1687
sunket1686
yam1788
chow-chow1795
keep1801
feed1818
grubbing1819
patter1824
ninyam1826
nyam1828
grubbery1831
tack1834
kai1845
mungaree1846
scoff1846
foodstuff1847
chuck1850
muckamuck1852
tuck1857
tucker1858
hash1865
nosh1873
jock1879
cake flour1881
chow1886
nosebag1888
stodge1890
food aid1900
tackle1900
munga1907
scarf1932
grubber1959
the world > food and drink > food > providing or receiving food > [noun]
nourishmentc1330
nurshinga1382
nurshmenta1382
sustenance1389
nutrition?a1425
nutrure?c1450
sustentation1452
nutrifaction?1503
education1533
feeding1547
nourishing1560
nutriture1568
cherishment1593
subsistence1615
nutrication1623
alimentation1626
keeping1644
alition1650
alumnation1658
focillation1658
aliture1721
altion1721
1644 in Rec. Early Hist. Boston (1877) II. 80 Charity White is allowed 26s. for thirteene weekes keeping of John Berry.
1671 J. Milton Samson Agonistes 1260 My labours The work of many hands, which earns my keeping . View more context for this quotation
1708 Yorksh. Racers 7 His stable-room and keeping are unpaid.
1876 J. G. Holland Story of Sevenoaks (new ed.) xii. 162 Mike thought he could hire a horse for his keeping and a sled for a small sum.
b. The maintaining of a mistress or lover; the fact or condition of being so maintained.
ΘΚΠ
society > morality > moral evil > licentiousness > unchastity > [noun] > illicit intimacy > keeping mistress or lover
keeping1675
protection1677
1675 W. Wycherley Country-wife i. 13 But prethee..is not keeping better than Marriage?
1680 J. Dryden Kind Keeper Pref. sig. A3v 'Twas intended for an honest Satyre against our crying sin of Keeping.
1728 J. Gay Beggar's Opera ii. iv. 25 Pray Madam were you ever in keeping?
1768 H. Walpole Hist. Doubts 49 (note) On the death of the king she [Jane Shore] had been taken into keeping by lord Hastings.
1853 E. C. Gaskell Ruth III. i. 29 She beguiled a young gentleman, who took her into keeping.
1932 J. M. S. Tompkins Pop. Novel in England 1770–1800 v. 193 Women of the town flaunt at the races and are taken into keeping.
1964 Listener 12 Mar. 444/3 There is no stigma on ‘keeping’ or ‘living’, nor on illegitimacy.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > punishment > imprisonment > [noun]
prisonOE
wardc1290
prisoning1344
keepingc1384
imprisonment1389
prisonment1422
jail1447
fasteningc1460
warding1497
firmancea1522
incarcerationc1540
imprisoningc1542
limbo1590
limbus?a1600
endurance1610
jailing1622
restraint1829
carceration1870
holiday1901
Paddy Doyle1919
bird1924
society > authority > punishment > imprisonment > prison > [noun]
quarternOE
prisona1200
jailc1275
lodgec1290
galleya1300
chartrea1325
ward1338
keepingc1384
prison-house1419
lying-house1423
javel1483
tollbooth1488
kidcotec1515
clinkc1530
warding-place1571
the hangman's budget1589
Newgate1592
gehenna1594
Lob's pound1597
caperdewsie1599
footman's inn1604
cappadochio1607
pena1640
marshalsea1652
log-house1662
bastille1663
naskin1673
state prison1684
tronk1693
stone-doublet1694
iron or stone doublet1698
college1699
nask1699
quod1699
shop1699
black hole1707
start1735
coop1785
blockhouse1796
stone jug1796
calaboose1797
factory1806
bull-pen1809
steel1811
jigger1812
jug1815
kitty1825
rock pile1830
bughouse1842
zindan1844
model1845
black house1846
tench1850
mill1851
stir1851
hoppet1855
booby hatch1859
caboose1865
cooler1872
skookum house1873
chokey1874
gib1877
nick1882
choker1884
logs1888
booby house1894
big house1905
hoosegow1911
can1912
detention camp1916
pokey1919
slammer1952
joint1953
slam1960
c1384 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(2)) (1850) Luke xxi. 12 Thei schulen sette hir hondis on ȝou..bitakinge in to synagogis and kepingis, ether prisouns.
a1535 T. More Hist. Richard III in Wks. (1557) 48/2 Her kepyng of the kinges brother in that place.
c1540 (?a1400) Destr. Troy 13953 Telamoc..come out of kepyng to his kid fadur.
7. The action or fact of retaining as one's own; retention; plural things kept or retained.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > possession > retaining > [noun]
holding?c1225
keepingc1400
retainment1449
retainer1453
retain1455
retainingc1460
retainder1467
retinue1489
retentivea1500
retention1540
reservation1607
retainal1754
reserval1829
c1400 Rom. Rose 5594 In getyng he hath such woo, And in the kepyng drede also.
1548 Hall's Vnion: Henry VI f. clijv Of the gettyng of this mannes goodes..I wil not speake: but the kepinge of them [etc.].
1634 T. Herbert Relation Some Yeares Trauaile 185 They concluded she was good prize and worth the keeping.
1857 W. Smith Confession Faith ii, in Thorndale 575 If there is to be any keeping, there must be some limit put upon the taking.
8. Reservation for future use; preservation.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > safety > protection or defence > preservation from injury or destruction > [noun] > preservation from decay, loss, or destruction > preservation for future use
keeping1560
asservation1621
1560 J. Daus tr. J. Sleidane Commentaries f. ccccxxxiiij A piece of bread..so drye..with longe kepinge.
1718 Free-thinker No. 27. 1 True Wit and Good Sense will bear Keeping.
1730 J. Swift Betty the Grizette A tawny speckled pippin Shrivel'd with a winter's keeping.
1812 M. R. Mitford Let. 10 Mar. in A. G. L'Estrange Life M. R. Mitford (1870) I. vi. 181 Are not poems, like port wine, the better for keeping?
1875 B. Jowett tr. Plato Dialogues (ed. 2) III. 696 Fruits which spoil with keeping.
9.
a. In Painting. originally. The maintenance of the proper relation between the representations of nearer and more distant objects in a picture; hence, in more general sense, ‘the proper subserviency of tone and colour in every part of a picture, so that the general effect is harmonious to the eye’ (Fairholt); the maintenance of harmony of composition.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > visual arts > painting and drawing > painting > art of colouring > [noun] > harmony of colours
harmoge1601
union1662
repose1695
value1706
keeping1715
melody1830
colour harmony1853
chord1856
the world > time > change > absence of change, changelessness > lasting quality, permanence > [noun] > act of remaining
remaining1496
remansion1598
lyinga1616
perseverance1657
keeping1780
1715 J. Richardson Ess. Theory of Painting 224 The Composition is not to be justifyed..the Groups are too Regularly placed, and without any Keeping in the Whole, that is, they appear too near of an Equal Strength.
1762 O. Goldsmith Citizen of World I. 241 [Parodying art slang] What do you think, Sir, of that head in the corner, done in the manner of Grisoni? there's the true keeping in it.
1768 W. Gilpin Ess. Prints 20 Keeping then proportions a proper degree of strength to the near and distant parts, in respect to each other.
1780 S. Johnson Let. 1 May (1992) III. 250 There is contour, and keeping and grace, and expression and all the varieties of artificial excellence.
1797 ‘English Lady’ Resid. in France I. 87 Some mixture of splendour and clumsiness, and a want of what the painters call keeping.
1812 M. Edgeworth Absentee xvii, in Tales Fashionable Life VI. 445 In lady Clonbrony's mind, as in some bad paintings, there was no keeping; all objects, great and small, were upon the same level.
1859 T. J. Gullick & J. Timbs Painting 172 The keeping and repose in this cartoon are inimitable.
b. generally. Agreement, congruity, harmony.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > literature > style of language or writing > elegance > [noun] > decorum or fitness
decoruma1568
felicity1605
keeping1819
1819 W. Hazlitt Eng. Comic Writers (1869) vi. 153 There is the exquisite keeping in the character of Blifil, and the want of it in that of Tom Jones.
1870 J. R. Lowell My Study Windows 406 For wit, fancy, invention, and keeping, it [the Rape of the Lock] has never been surpassed.
c. in or out of keeping (with): in or out of harmony or agreement (with).
ΚΠ
?1790 J. Imison Curious & Misc. Articles (new ed.) 59 in School of Arts (ed. 2) In what respect it is out of keeping; that is, what parts are too light, and what too dark.
1806 F. Horner Let. in Life (1849) vii. 175 They were so in keeping with the whole that the prevailing tone was..never interrupted.
1824 S. Ferrier Inheritance II. xv. 168 To use an artist phrase, nothing could be more in keeping with the day than the reception Miss S. met with.
1830 Blackwood's Mag. 27 310 It is in ‘fine keeping’, as the phrase is.
1841 C. J. Lever Charles O'Malley iv. 24 His own costume of black coat, leathers and tops, was in perfect keeping.
1841–8 F. Myers Catholic Thoughts II. iii. v. 14 Such an utterance of Truth would..be out of keeping with our present condition in the flesh.
1878 R. B. Smith Carthage 26 Indications..in thorough keeping with the view we have taken.
II. From intransitive senses of the verb.
10. Staying or remaining in a place or in a certain condition; remaining sound.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > safety > protection or defence > preservation from injury or destruction > [noun] > preservation from decay, loss, or destruction > preservation for future use > fact of being
keeping1742
1742 W. Ellis London & Country Brewer (ed. 4) I. 22 The Handful of Salt..hinders their Ale from keeping.
1760 S. Fielding Ophelia I. xxv. 205 I took Advantage of my Disorder to excuse my keeping at Home.
1776 J. Hunter Let. 22 Jan. in Wks. (1835) I. 59 Their keeping into one substance would make me inclinable to believe that it is a new substance.
III. With adverbs.
11. With adverbs, as keeping back, keeping down, keeping in, keeping out, keeping up: see keep v. Phrasal verbs 1.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > relative position > condition of being external > [noun] > keeping or shutting out
shuttingc1440
non-admission1575
excluding1581
exclusion1614
disclusion1656
keeping1835
1552 R. Huloet Abcedarium Anglico Latinum Kepynge backe or a part, reseruatio, retentio.
a1568 R. Ascham Scholemaster (1570) i. f. 12 Sharpe kepinge in, and bridleinge of youth.
1667 S. Pepys Diary 26 Apr. (1974) VIII. 184 He says that the King's keeping in still with my Lady Castlemaine doth show it.
1814 Duke of Wellington Dispatches (1838) 15 May XII. 12 An allowance for the purchase and keeping up of a mule in the public service.
1835 T. B. Macaulay Sir James Mackintosh in Ess. (1887) 366 By resistance they meant the keeping out of James the Third.
1884 Nonconformist & Independent 25 Sept. 927/3 The system of ‘keeping in’ [at school] is barbarous.
1897 T. C. Allbutt et al. Syst. Med. IV. 371 The keeping down of uræmic accumulation.
Compounds
attributive and in other combinations, as keeping-beer, keeping ewe-lamb, keeping-ground, keeping-sheep, etc.
ΚΠ
1736 Compl. Family-piece i. vi. 205 The Season for Brewing Keeping-Beer.
1773 Hist. Brit. Dominions N. Amer. ii. ii. §12. 217 When whales are much disturbed, they quit their keeping-ground.
1886 C. Scott Pract. Sheep-farming 115 A new system of not weaning the keeping ewe lambs at all.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1901; most recently modified version published online September 2021).
keepingadj.
That keeps, in various senses (see the verb). Esp. of fruit (cf. keep v. 41).
ΚΠ
c1450 ABC of Aristotle (Lamb. 853) in Babees Bk. (2002) i. 12 [Be not] to kinde, ne to kepynge, & be waar of knaue tacchis.
1681 A. Behn 2nd Pt. Rover ii. 31 All this frights me not; 'tis still much better than a keeping Husband.
1703 N. Rowe Fair Penitent i. i. 236 Some keeping Cardinal shall doat upon thee.
1801 ‘P. Pindar’ Tears & Smiles 41 Daughters and dead fish, we find, Were never keeping wares.
1816 J. Austen Emma II. ix. 187 There never was such a keeping apple any where as one of his trees. View more context for this quotation
1842 Hood Let. 12 Oct. in F. F. Broderip Memorials Thomas Hood (1860) II. iv. 140 Our gardener said they [sc. pears] were a keeping sort, and would be good at Christmas.
1963 Times 11 Feb. 13/5 The majority of pupils ate sandwiches and keeping-apples.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1901; most recently modified version published online June 2021).
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n.c1330adj.c1450