hold the book

verb

To act as prompter.

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Meanings

verbhold the book (third-person singular simple present holds the book, present participle holding the book, simple past and past participle held the book)

present singular third person holds the book · participle present holding the book · participle past held the book · past held the book

  1. entertainmentTo act as prompter.

    In a little time, and you'll cease to hold the book to men and women; no, you'll have to prompt nothing but earthquakes, and give the word to nobody but dragons and flying fish.

    1860, Douglas Jerrold, Blanchard Jerrold, The Brownrigg Papers, page 133
    1 more example

    Here we are! now then," he said, as they entered the theatre, "clear the stage, all ready for the first piece. Who'll hold the book? Here, Puzzleton, you've nothing to do, just prompt will you, like a good fellow?

    1869, Hawley Smart, Breezie Langton, volume 1, page 190

Synonyms & antonyms

Also see
keep the book
Cite this entry
APA

hold the book. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/hold%20the%20book

MLA

“hold the book.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/hold%20the%20book. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “hold the book,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/hold%20the%20book.

Source: hold the book on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.