maintenir

Meaning

1. to maintain
2. to stick to
3. to stay fair
4. to persist
5. to keep up

Pronounced as (IPA)

/mɛ̃t.niʁ/

Etymology

Inherited from Old French maintenir, from Vulgar Latin, Late Latin manūtenēre (“to support”), from Latin manū (“with the hand”) + teneō (“to hold”). Equivalent to main + tenir. Compare Spanish mantener, Portuguese manter, Italian mantenere.