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First published 1971 (DOST Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Maintene, Man-, Mentene, Maynteme, v. Also: mayn(e)-, mane-, mann- and -ten(e, -tein(e, -teyn(e, -tean(e, -teen, -tine; maynteigne, manteyng, meintene, -tein(e, meynteyn; mayn(e)teym(e, manteme, -teym(e, -theym, -teame; menteme. [ME. and e.m.E. mainten(e, -tein (13–14th c.), manteine (14th c.), mein-, meyntene (14th c.), mentene, -teyne (15th c.), F. maintenir (L. manū tenēre). Cf. also Mainteiny and Maintain.]

1. tr. a. To carry on, prosecute, or to keep up, continue to prosecute (a war, fight, siege, contest).(a) 1375 Barb. iv. 573 (E).
Giff … thai had possibilite To maynteyme [C. manteme] the wer in that cuntre Ib. x. 184. Ib. xiii. 280.
Thai that wycht war … At gret myscheiff mantemyt the ficht Ib. xv. 52. ?1438 Alex. i. 142.(b) 1456 Hay I. 51/3.
Thre othir consules to maynteine the weris Ib. 80/2.
To manetene the querelis of thair fore elderis and ancestris Ib. 219/34, II. 4/19. (Wynt.) a1570-86 Maitl. F. xl. 58.
Manteine c1590 Fowler II. 154/21.
Philipp of Macedone … did … maintene for many yeres the wares aganst his armed enmeyeis(c) ?1438 Alex. (c 1580) i. 2236.
Mentene Ib. ii. 10451.
[To] menteme weir … Quhill he be vengit of his skaith 15.. Clar. i. 194.
Ȝe that ar ȝoung … On ȝow it [the battle] tuik … And weill mentinet to the uterance 1602 Colville Parænese Ep. 62.
To supplie him for menteyning his warrs

b. To carry on with, continue (any activity); also, to continue to practise. 1375 Barb. ii. 189.
Frendis … purchesand to maynteym that he had begunnyn c1460 Regim. Princ. 51 (Fairfax).
Sen a mannis wyt may nocht suffis For to maynteyme sa hee a gouernance c1500-c1512 Dunb. lxxxi. 57.
I sall help for to mantene the dance a1651 Calderwood II. 148.
When suche as now onlie mainteaned her masse were exiled

2. To cause to continue in some condition or situation. ?1438 Alex. ii. 2531.
Quhilk thre thingis … maist mantemys it [love] in vigour … ? 1456 Hay II. 164/15. Ib. /21.
Gevand giftis to lordis of the counsale for to maneteine thame lang in thair officis 1559 Misc. Spald. C. IV. 91.
[To] menten his kirk in the awin libertye c1590 Fowler II. 94/2.
He mantened always these factions … in that same estate quhairin he fand theme

b. To keep, have (near one). c1590 Fowler II. 135/32.
The Great Turk … contenuallye menteineth besyds him tuelf thousand futmen [etc.]

c. To keep in good repair. 1641 Cochran-Patrick Coinage I. xxxi.
The mylne varie chargeable to menteane 1647 Aberd. B. Rec. IV. 77.
For helping to mantein the fabrik of this kirk

3. refl. To conduct oneself (bravely, cleverly, successfully, etc.).Also Maintain v. b, quot. Spalding. 1375 Barb. ii. 486.
Always … He mayntemyt him full manlyly Ib. xi. 318.
I trow he sall manteyme [E. maynteyme] him swa That … His fayis to plenȝe sall mater haf ?1438 Alex. ii. 3628.
I haue mantemyt me sa weill That I haue … luffare Fare Ib. 2261, 4828, 9419.

4. To keep in good rule, to govern and protect as ruler (a country, people, etc.). 1375 Barb. xiii. 709.
God grant that thai … maynteyme [E. manteyme] the land And hald the folk weill to warrand Ib. xvi. 34. 1456 Hay II. 79/9. 1513 Doug. xii. xi. 30.
Thar beyn enew otheris … Forto defend and weill manteym the tovn 1543–4 Breadalbane Doc. No. 60.
To warrand mantheym and defend … the Kingis landis of Braidalbane c 1567 Anderson Collect. Mary I. 118.
That the samyn [Dunbar Castle] suld be weill intertenit, mantenit and furnishit c1590 Fowler II. 91/21.
They [principalities] ar by a celestiall cair mantened 1596 Dalr. II. 358/20.
To menteine the commounouris weil notable and prudent 1647 Aberd. B. Rec. IV. 84.
The toun … cannot gudelie be manteined for lack of moneyabsol. 1456 Hay II. 101/12.
To serve his creaturis and governe and manetene

5. To keep vigorous, effective or unimpaired or merely to keep in being (an institution, reputation, etc.); to uphold by one's actions or speech, to further (a cause, etc.), to give one's support to (an authority, etc.).(a) 1375 Barb. viii. 252.
For till maynteme [E. maynteyme] heir our honour Ib. xx. 605.
The law sa weill mantemyt he And held in pes swa the cuntre That [etc.] Ib. x. 289, xi. 268, xiii. 711, etc. ?1438 Alex. i. 547. 1513 Doug. vi. xv. 16.
The peax to modefy and eik manteme [: seme] Ib. xi. xii. 114.
Forto manteym thar rycht 1562-3 Winȝet II. 8/29, 9/27.
Manteame, manteamit(b) c1460 Thewis Wysmen 142.
[They] That mentemys vrang agan the rycht(c) 1456 Hay I. 217/19, 20.
The Empire … lytill gude … has done to … the cristyn faith, bot ay manetenand scisme. … Bot Fraunce has ay kepit and manetenyt the faith Ib. II. 164/21.
Be thame mon … thy croune [be] uphaldyn and mayntenyt 1559 St. A. Kirk S. 14.
Maynteyne 1558-66 Knox I. 346, II. 45.
Maynteane, mainteine a1578 Pitsc. II. 223/15. a1585 Maitl. Q. xlvi. 172. c1590 Fowler II. 82/19. Ib. 128/36.
With quhat litill paine King Louyes might haue maintened his greatnes(d) a1400 Leg. S. xxiii. 155.
Thane thocht he thai suld nomare Cristis treutht mantene na wyse 14.. Acts I. 107/2. 1456 Hay I. 171/35; etc.
Gude caus to manetene c1460 Thewis Wysmen 449.
Manteine 1466 Acts II. 85/1.
That the priuelege and honoure of halikirk … be obseruit kepit mannteinit [pr. manu-] ande defendit a1500 Rauf C. 850.
Gif Mahoun … may mantene my micht a1500 Seven S. 968.
Ȝour purpos God manteine 1562-3 Winȝet I. 42/15, etc. 1558-66 Knox I. 279.
Beleving suyrly your lordschippis wisedom should not have manteaned and melled with sick thingis that mycht do me dishonour 1573 Tyrie in Cath. Tr. 15/27.
Albeid the Romane Kirk haue the promeis of God to be mantened a1578 Pitsc. I. 110/24, etc. 1584 Laing MSS. I. 42.
The mutuall consentis of us baith to manteane peax 1594–5 Misc. New Spald. C. I. 85.
That he suld manteane and fortifie the liberties and previlegis of this burght 1630-1651 Gordon Geneal. Hist. 142.
To advance and mantean the Earl of Murray his tirranical aspiring to the croun 1659 Aberd. B. Rec. IV. 184.
Mantein(e) 1557 Facs. Nat. MSS. III. xl.
To mentene … the … worde of God 1558-66 Knox II. 85.
Quhen idolatrie was menteynit c1568 Lauder Minor P. i. 63, Bann.
Menteane 1569-73 Memor. 142. a1570-86 Maitl. F. clxxiv. 55.
Mentein 1568 Anderson Collect. Mary IV. 56; 1592 Warrender P. II. 173.
Mentene(f) c1460 Alex. (Taym.) 258.
Agane the wrang he meinteinit ay the rycht 1655 Aberd. B. Rec. IV. 151.
The good old way so purlie meintenit and universallie practisit this many yeires bygane in this … natioun

Also b. To defend from oppression etc. — 1559 Cal. Sc. P. I. 226.
To mantean the liberty of this our country from the tyranny & thraldome of straungearis

6. To stand by, back up, support the cause of, protect, assist (a person or party).Also, to support or assist (one) in his office, rights, etc., in doing something, to do something.Common in bonds of alliance, manrent, etc.(1) 1388–9 Cal. Chart. Suppl.
That yhe maynteigne the forsaid Alan & his ayres as tenandes to the Kyng 1447 Aberd. B. Rec. I. 15.
The agaynstandaris of this statute sall noght be maynetenyt be the maisteres 1568 Anderson Collect. Mary IV. i. 122.
To mainteine hir as ouir natyve princes indurand hir lyiftyme 1597 Skene Verb. S. s.v. Ligeantia.
And he is called our liege king because he suld maintene & defend vs(b) 1388 Douglas Chart. 33.
We sal manteyn hir hir men hir landys … aganys ony [etc.] a1570-86 Arbuthnot Maitl. F. xxix. 151.
All my kyn … In richt or wrang I man alwayis mantene 1568 Lyndesay Pref. 9.
To encorage his elect, … he hes maist michtilie manteynit thame(c) ?1438 Alex. (c 1580) ii. 2166.
Ilk knicht also is haldin well, To help and mentene ane damysell 1557 Facs. Nat. MSS. III. xl.(d) 1521 Maxwell Mem. I. 248.
[To] defend and manteym hym … in caws lethful 1530 Reg. Soltre 99.
Manteme(2) 1398–9 Acts I. 211/1.
That all the legys … sal ansuer obeice consayl mayntene & suppouel the said lieutenande in his office 1454–5 Irons Leith I. App. 569.
Item, that he sal manetene … the balyies of the watter … in thair office 1456 Hay II. 50/27.
Peceable personis the quhilkis … he is ordanyt to defend, manetene and halde in thair richtis 1506 Rep. Hist. MSS., Varr. Coll. V. 85.
Me, Matho, Erle Lennox … to defend, supple and maintene the said Villeame in al his actions, querelis and debatis(b) 1515 Douglas Corr. 69.
[His sister the Queen] mantenyt and defendyt by hymm in the sammyne [sc. her authority] 1609 Bk. Dunvegan I. 48.
To assist and mantein utheris in thair honest and lesum effaires(c) c 1459 Liber Aberbr. II. 106.
The sad smyth callyt hym his man for to manteyn hyme in seruice … that otheris suld nocht vrang hyme(3) 1412 Aberd. B. Rec. I. 389.
Ilke man … sal stand gaird, … to … maintene the officeris of the tovne in thair office doand 1520 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 200.
Till fortefy and manteine the saidis bonetmakaris in the optenyng … of the act 1673 Haddington B. Rec. (Robb) 22 Feb.
To assist mantein and defend the said M^r William in correcting the insolence of the scholars(4) 1448 Acts I. 350/2.
The hail lordis … suld mantene and supple him … to do the law vpoun thaim that brak the statutis a1578 Pitsc. I. 410/32.
I beseik God … to instruct, mantein and illumnat the heartis of all Christiane princes to considder this admonitioun

b. In a bad sense: To abet, countenance or shield (a wrong-doer). 14.. Reg. Maj. cxlix.
Nouther theffis na manslaaris … thai sal manteme na resaf 1456 Hay I. 31/21.
To manetene fals antepapis 1558-66 Knox II. 338.
Under the cullour of the messe are hoores, adulteraris, drunkardis [etc.] … manteaned 1567 Facs. Nat. MSS. III. lv. Buch. Wr. 33, 44.
Rather she apperit to fortefie and mantene the said Erll Boithuile … in the saidis wickit crymes a1578 Pitsc. I. 15/24.
Menteined

c. With non-personal subject: To uphold, support, assist, assure. ?1438 Alex. ii. 9471.
How fortune hes mentemit him thare, Agane the best that euer birny bare 1456 Hay II. 150/23.
The sternis and planetis … helpis him, manetenis him and furtheris him to governe tharefter 1549 Compl. 19/3.
As the hie monarchis … are stablit … and menteinit be the sempeternal prouidens c1590 Fowler II. 107/11.
By it not only ar they mantened that [ar] borne prences bot very oft … privat men … climmeth [etc.]

7. To support materially or financially, to bear the expense of, to provide for; also, to provide with livelihood.Also, to supply or equip (a ship, factory, etc.), to defray (expenses). 1375 Barb. x. 779.
The King … to manteyn his stat him gaff Rentis and landis c1420 Wynt. v. 3183.
Hym thowcht Brettayne lytyll wes For to mayntene hys ryawte Bot he wald ga wyn Frawns c1460 Alex. (Taym.) 2068.
Wrangus tribute takin of the pure And idilnes menteinit fra laboure c1460 Dietary 60.
Eftir thi power maynteine ay thi houshald c1475 Wall. x. 936.
Maynteine 1572 Buch. Detect. (1727) 9.
Sa mekle as to mantene his daylie necessarie expensis a1578 Pitsc. I. 227/1.
[He] passit fourth … witht tua schipis weill mantenitt and artaillȝeit c1610 Melville Mem. 64.
Fyfty thousand crownis to mentean fied wageours 1637 Aberd. B. Rec. III. iii.
Manteane 1645 Acts VI. i. 353/2.
Menteane

8. To uphold or advance in argument (a claim or proposition); to claim (to do or have something), to affirm (that something is so), etc.(1) a1400 Leg. S. l. 390.
Quhy suld thu … A madine thole … this lang Manteyng a-gane our godis wra[n]g 1456 Hay I. 168/27.
Manetenand a fals opynioun 1573 Sat. P. xlii. 92.
The veritie we may mantine [:sene] 1600 Hamilton Facile Tr. 172, 206.
Maintene, -teine 1639 Baillie I. 241.
To shoot at the patronages and calling in of all church rents, to mainteen therby even our elders and deacons, … wer a project which everie on will not … think them suorne to maintein 1638-54 Rec. Kirk Scotl. 613.
Sectareis … haid tollerat many … strange opiniounes … and haid mantened, allowed and ventit the same in England(2) 1494 Loutfut ms. i a.
That ilkan of the saidis parteis wald say and manteine till haff be thar office … to be nerraste before the Kingis persoun 1549 Compl. 104/15.
And Scottis men … man suere and menteine that thai var borne in … the southt partis of Ingland 1559 Cal. Sc. P. I. 261.
Yit will I meynteyn that thair in ye haif falslie leyt 1569 Q. Mary in Facs. Nat. MSS. III. lix.
The said pretendit maryage is one na wayis lauchfull, nor can in ony wayis … be mentenit as guide 1631 Justiciary Cases I. 158.
For it is manteinet that that persone quha can nocht … be ane witnes … can nocht be ane fals witnes

9. a. To guard, defend. b. To withhold or retain, especially by force. 1375 Barb. xi. 310.
For to maynteym his baner, Lordis … War assignit … In-till his battale for till be 1513 Doug. iv. v. 81.
That secund Parys … By reif mantemys hir suld owris be 1565 St. A. Kirk S. 243.
James refusit to deliver to hyr hyr awyn barn but wythhaldis and mantenis the sam — 1649 Hist. Fragm. ii. 90.
Four hundreth men … which is sufficient to mantean this place agenst all that dare call themselves committes