maintain

The story

1. Latin · derived frommanū“with/in/by the hand”
2. Late Latin · derived frommanūteneō, manūtenēre“I support”
3. Old French · derived frommaintenir
4. Middle English · inherited frommayntenen
5. English todaymaintain

From Middle English mayntenen, from Old French maintenir, from Late Latin manūteneō, manūtenēre (“I support”), from Latin manū (“with/in/by the hand”, ablative of manus) + tenēre (“to hold”).

Words from the same roots

First known use, by meaning

• from 14th c. To keep up; to preserve; to uphold (a state, condition etc.).
• from 15th c. To declare or affirm (a clause) to be true; to assert.
• 14th–19th c. To support (someone), to back up or assist (someone) in an action.