1. The act of holding, as in or with the hands or arms; the manner of holding, whether firm or loose; seizure; grasp; clasp; gripe; possession; — often used with the verbs take and lay. Ne have I not twelve pence within mine hold. Chaucer. Thou should'st lay hold upon him. B. Jonson. My soul took hold on thee. Addison. Take fast hold of instruction. Pror. iv. 13.
2. The authority or ground to take or keep; claim. The law hath yet another hold on you. Shak.
3. Binding power and influence. Fear . . . by which God and his laws take the surest hold of. Tillotson.
4. Something that may be grasped; means of support. If a man be upon an high place without rails or good hold, he is ready to fall. Bacon.
5. A place of confinement; a prison; confinement; custody; guard. They . . . put them in hold unto the next day. Acts. iv. 3. King Richard, he is in the mighty hold Of Bolingbroke. Shak.
6. A place of security; a fortified place; a fort; a castle; — often called a stronghold. Chaucer. New comers in an ancient hold Tennyson.
7. (Mus.)
Defn: A character [thus pause, and corona.
HOLDBACK
Hold"back`, n.
1. Check; hindrance; restraint; obstacle. The only holdback is the affection . . . that we bear to our wealth. Hammond.