holden

1. archaicparticiplepastpast participle of hold

   She was pale and trembling. He came to her relief with a fixed despair of himself, which made the interview unlike any other that could have been holden.

   1859, Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities

   3 more examples

   Asses milke is holden for to be thickest, and therfore they use it in stead of renning, to turn milke and gather curds thereof. It is thought also to be very good for to make womens skin faire and white

   1603, Pliny the Elder, translated by Philemon Holland, The Historie of the World. Commonly called, The Naturall Historie of C. Plinius Secundus, volume I, London: Adam Fslip, page 348

   And in the worst construction they conceited Money, or a resignation of that part was holden by the King in France, would beget a Peace at their own will and pleasure.

   c. 1620s, Elizabeth Cary [misattributed to Henry Cary], The History Of the most unfortunate Prince King Edward II. […] , London: A.G. and F. P., published 1680, page 37

   The court of sweinmote is to be holden before the verderors, as judges, by the steward of the swein-mote, thrice in every year, the sweins or freeholders within the forest composing the jury.

   1766, William Blackstone, Commentaries on the Laws of England

1. A surname.

   District judge Philip Holden suspended a 12-month prison sentence for a year and ordered McGurty to complete 150 hours of unpaid work and a 30-day rehabilitation activity requirement.

   2026 August 27, “Man who threatened ex-partner spared jail”, in BBC News, archived from the original on 28 Aug 2026, retrieved 03 Sep 2026

2. A male given name transferred from the surname.

   An acquaintance, Nygyl Bryyn, confirmed to CNN the profile and alias is that of Holden Matthews.

   2019 April 12, Paul P. Murphy and Samira Said, “Louisiana arson suspect expressed disgust with Baptist churches on Facebook”, in CNN, archived from the original on 02 Nov 2021

   1 more example

   ‘Holden!’ Mrs Spencer said. ‘How lovely to see you! Come in, dear! Are you frozen to death?’ I think she was glad to see me. She liked me. At least, I think she did.

   1951 July 16, J[erome] D[avid] Salinger, The Catcher in the Rye, Boston, Mass.: Little, Brown and Company, →OCLC

3. A village in Alberta, Canada.
4. A lake in Lierne, Trøndelag, Norway.
5. A lake in Steinkjer, Trøndelag, Norway.
6. A number of places in the United States:
   1. An unincorporated community in Livingston Parish, Louisiana.
   2. A town in Penobscot County, Maine.
   3. A town in Worcester County, Massachusetts.
   4. A township in Goodhue County, Minnesota.
   5. A city in Johnson County, Missouri.
   6. An unorganized territory in Adams County, North Dakota.
   7. An unincorporated community in Auglaize County and Hardin County, Ohio.
   8. A town in Millard County, Utah.
   9. A census-designated place in Logan County, West Virginia.
   10. An unincorporated town in Vermont.
7. A hamlet in Bolton-by-Bowland parish, Ribble Valley district, Lancashire, England (OS grid ref SD7749).

plural Holdens

1. A brand of car (automobile) originating in Australia.