holaspidean 
holaspidean (hol-as-pid'e-an), a. Pertaining 
to or having the characters of the Holaspidea; ; 
specifically, having the posterior portion of the 
tarsus covered by large scutella in a single se- 
ries, as in the larks, Alaudidw. 
holbardt holberdt."- Obsolete forms of halberd. 
Holbcellia (hol-bel'i-a), n. [NL., named after F. 
L. Holboll, superintendent of the Royal Botanic 
Gardens at Copenhagen.] A genus of climbing 
shrubs, of the natural order Berberidece (Ber- 
beridacetf), tribe Lardizabalece, the type of End- 
licher's tribe Holboelliea;. Its technical characters 
are : monoecious flowers with 6 petaloid sepals and 6 minute 
stamens ; the male flowers with 8 free stamens and rudi- 
mentary ovary, the female with 6 sterile stamens and 3 
oblong carpels; berry oblong, indehiscent; leaves digitate- 
ly 3- to 9-foliolate ; flowers purple or greenish, in axillary 
racemes. Only 2 species are known, natives of the Hima- 
laya region. 
Holboelliese (hol-be-li'e-e), n. pi. [NL., < Hol- 
bosllia + -ere.] A tribe of plants established 
by Endlicher in 1840 for the then recognized 
suborder Lardizabalece, of the Menispermaceai, 
transferred by later authors to the Berberidece 
(Berberidacece), and employed by Bentham and 
Hooker as a tribe, which includes the genus 
SolbtfWa. 
Holbrookia (hol-bruk'i-ii), n. [NL. (C. Girard, 
1851), named after J. E.Holbrook, an American 
herpetologist.] A notable genus of lizards, of 
which there are several American species, re- 
lated to the horned toads. The leading species 
is H. maculata, found on the western plains, 
especially among prairie-dogs. 
holcad (nol'kad), n. [< Gr. oAicdf (6/l/cao-), a 
ship which is towed, a ship of burden, < ifativ, 
draw: see Holcus.] In Gr. antiq., a ship of bur- 
den ; a merchantman. 
holcodont (hol'ko-dont), a. [< Gr. o/U<if, a fur- 
row, track (see Holcus), + Motif (bSovr-) = E. 
tooth.'] In ornith., having teeth distinctly 
and separately socketed in a long continuous 
groove, as the Odontolcce. 
Holcus (hol'kus), . [NL., < L. holcus, < Or. 
6'AKOf, a sort of grain, mouse-barley : cf . oA/if, 
adj., drawing to oneself, 
trailing, oAxof, a furrow, < 
IXicetv, draw, draw out.] A 
genus of perennial plants, 
of the natural order Gra- 
minece. It is characterized by 
spikelets crowded in an open 
panicle, 2-flowered, and Jointed 
with the pedicels, and boat- 
shaped glumes inclosing and 
much exceeding the remotish 
flowers. The lower flower is per- 
fect, its papery or thin coriaceous 
lower palet being awnless and 
pointless; the upper flower is 
similar, staminate, and bears a 
stout bent awn below the apex. 
The stamens are 8 in number. 
About 8 species are known, ori- 
ginally natives of Europe and 
Africa, but some are now widely 
distributed. H. lanatus, the vel- 
vet-grass or meadow soft-grass, 
is extensively naturalized in the 
United States. It is regarded as 
of little value either for pasture 
or for hay. H.mollis, the creeping 
soft-grass, is regarded as a trou- 
blesome weed, //. saccharatus 
is said to contain a large quantity 
of sugar. The species are known 
as soft-grass or velvet-grass. 
hold 1 (hold), r. ; pret. held, v h |JElf 1 * 
TIT * *J f i 7 j tus). a. spikelet. 
pp. held (archaic holden, 
chiefly used in law), ppr. holding. [E. dial. 
houd, hod, Sc. hald, hand, had (see had? and 
Tioffi), < ME. holden, earlier halden (pret. held, 
helde, hilde, hylde, pi. helden, etc., pp. holden, 
holde), < AS. healdan (pret. hedld, pi. hedldon, 
pp. healden) = OS. haldan = OFries. halda = D. 
houden = MLG. halden, LG. holden = OHG. hal- 
tan, MHG. G. halten = Icel. halda = Sw. h&lla 
= Dan. holde, hold, keep, = Goth, haldan (pret. 
haihald, pp. haldans), keep or tend cattle ; a re- 
duplicating verb. The special Goth, sense sug- 
gests a connection with Gr. /JotMaSAof , a cow-herd 
(see bucolic), the Teut. root being then *hal, 
with present-formative -d; but this is doubt- 
ful.] I. trans. 1. To keep fast or close, as in 
the grasp of the hand ; control or prevent the 
movement or action of, by grasping, binding, 
arresting, or other means of constraint or de- 
tention; retain; keep: as, to hold a horse by 
the bridle; to hold a prisoner in chains; to hold 
the attention of an audience; to hold one's self 
in readiness. 
Youre knyf withe mete to your mouthe nat here, 
And in youre hande nor holden yee yt no way. 
Babeei Book (E. E. T. S.), p. 7. 
2854 
Whom Ood hath raised up, having loosed the pains of 
death ; because it was not possible that he should be hold- 
en of it. Acts ii. 24. 
'Twixt his finger and his thumb he held 
A pouucet-box. Shak., 1 Hen. IV., L 3. 
2. To keep back; detain: as, goods held for the 
payment of duties. 
Tis not pain 
In forcing of a wound, nor after-gain 
Of many days, can hold me from my will. 
Fletcher, Faithful Shepherdess, Iv. 1. 
Whilst I at a banquet hiM him sure, 
I'll find some cunning practice out of hand 
To scatter and disperse the giddy Ooths. * 
Shak., Tit. And., v. 2. 
I hoped to hold Pemberton in my front while Sherman 
should get in his rear and into Vlcksburg. 
U. S. Grant, 1'ersonal Memoirs, I. 431. 
3. To keep back from action; restrain from 
action or manifestation; withhold; restrain; 
check. 
The most High . . . held, still the flood till they were 
passed over. 2 Esd. xiii. 44. 
Hold, hold, he yields ; hold thy brave sword, he's con- 
quer'd. Beau, and Ft., Knight of Malta, it 5. 
There was silence deep as death ; 
And the boldest held his breath 
For a time. Campbell, Battle of the Baltic. 
4. To contain, or be capable of containing; 
have capacity or accommodation for: as, a bas- 
ket holding two bushels ; the church holds two 
thousand people. 
They have . . . hewed them out cisterns, broken cis- 
terns, that can hold no water. Jer. ii. 18. 
And they might enter at his open door, 
E'en till his spacious hall would holtl no more. 
Cowper, Hope, 1. 809. 
The lower city would naturally be spread over the more 
sheltered ground which holds all that is left of Durazzo 
under the rule of the Turk. 
E. A. Freeman, Venice, p. 878. 
5. To pursue, prosecute, or carry on; enter- 
tain ; employ ; sustain : as, to hold one's course ; 
to hold a court or a meeting; to hold an argu- 
ment ; to hold intercourse. 
Crete was the f eeste that the kynge hilde on the euen of 
the assumption. Merlin (E. E. T. S.\ ill. 614. 
There y was wonte to leepe bifore, 
Fer aboute now my wei y hoolde. 
Hymni to Virgin, etc. (E. E. T. S.), p. 72. 
It draws near the season 
Wherein the spirit held his wont to walk. 
Shak., Hamlet, i. 4. 
About this time a Parliament was holden at Westmin- 
ster, where Subsidies were willingly granted. 
Baker, Chronicles, p. 386. 
The Inhabitants holde trade with other Samoeds. 
Purchas, Pilgrimage, p. 433. 
Seed time and harvest, heat and hoary frost, 
Shall hold their course. Milton, P. L., xi. 900. 
As hags hold, sabbaths, less for joy than spite, 
So these their merry, miserable night. 
Pope, Moral Essays, Ii. 239. 
The language held by both father and daughter to the 
House of Commons. Brougham. 
Specifically, in music : (a) To sing or play, as one of several 
parts in a harmony : as, to hold the tenor in a glee. (6) To 
maintain in one part, as a tone, while the other parts pro- 
gress ; dwell upon. 
6. To have and retain as one's own ; be vested 
with title to; own: as, to hold a mortgage. 
"Holde, Joseph," sayd Ihesu, "that couerture of my 
body." Joseph of Arimathie (E. E. T. S.), p. 39. 
But he hathe lost alle but Orece ; and that Lond he 
holt alle only. Mandemlle, Travels, p. 8. 
I M. take thee N. to my wedded wife, to have and lo 
holil from this day forward. 
Book of Common Prayer, Solemnization of Matrimony. 
The doctrine grew that the temporal lords alone were 
peers, as alone having their blood " ennobled," which is 
the herald's way of saying that they held their seats by 
hereditary right. 
E. A. Freeman, Encyc. Brit., XVIII. 460. 
7. To have or be in possession of; occupy: as, 
to hold land adversely; to hold office. 
The whigs had now held office, under Grey and Mel- 
bourne, with a short interruption, for ten years. 
& Dowell, Taxes in England, II. 301. 
8. To maintain; uphold; defend: as, to hold 
one's own ; to hold one's right against all comers. 
With what arms 
We mean to hold what anciently we claim 
Of deity or empire. Milton, P. L., v. 723. 
His party . . . drave his kith and kin, 
And all the Table Round that held the lists, 
Back to the barrier. 
Tennyson, Lancelot and Elaine. 
Halleck on the same day, the 5th of December, directed 
me not to attempt to hold the country south of the Talla- 
hatchle. U. S. Grant, Personal Memoirs, I. 430. 
9. To entertain in the mind; regard, or regard 
as; consider, deem, esteem, or judge to be: as, 
to hold an opinion or a prejudice ; to hold one's 
self free to act. 
hold 
This tre [of Mamre] is holde in urete veneracion amonges 
the Sarrasyns. Sir R. Guylforde, 1'ylgrymage, p. 54. 
The Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his 
name In vain. Ex. xx. 7. 
Sixe miles from hence is a Well holden in like sacred 
account, which cureth Leprosies. 
Purchas, Pilgrimage, p. 75. 
Inquire how she thinks of him, how she holds him. 
Fletcher, Wildgoose Chase, ill. 1. 
I hold reason to be the best Arbitrator, and the Law of 
Law it selfe. Milton, Kikonoklastes, v. 
She took no offence at his reference to nursery gossip, 
which she had learned to hold cheap. 
O. W. Holmes, A Mortal Antipathy, xil. 
10. To decide; lay down the law: as, the 
court held that the plaintiff was entitled to re- 
cover. 11. To bear; endure. [Rare.] 
Now humble as the ripest mulberry 
That will not hold the handling. 
Shak., Cor., ill. 2. 
Corses now-a-days, that will scarce hold the laying in. 
Shak., Hamlet, v. 1. 
12. To support; maintain; keep up; bear; 
carry. 
Yet cease I not to clamour and to cry, 
While my stiff spine can hold my weary head. 
Tennyson, St. Simeon Stylites. 
Some man or other must present wall; . . . U-t lihn A"M 
his fingers thus. Shak., M. N. D., iii. 1. 
Katie walks 
By the long wash of Australasian seas 
Far off, and Imlilx her head to other stars, 
And breathes in converse seasons. 
Tennyson, The Brook. 
13. To keep or set apart as belonging to some 
one; keep. 
Abed 
For her own flowers and favorite herbs, a space, 
By sacred charter, holden for her use. 
Wordsworth, Excursion, vl. 
14. To bet; wager. [Archaic.] 
ni hold thee any wager, 
When we are both accoutred like young men, 
I'll prove the prettier fellow of the two. 
Shak., M. of V., ill 4. 
I hold my life you have forgot your dancing. 
Middleton, Chaste Maid, L 1. 
Ill hold three tooth-picks to one pound of snuff, I catch 
him. Goldsmith, Citizen of the World, Ixxxviii. 
Not fit to hold a candle to. See candle. To be holden, 
to bo holdt, to be beholden or indebted. 
And I so inoche am hold to his grace, 
That for to haue his Reme myself alone, 
I wold not be ontrew to his person. 
Generydes (E. E. T. S.), L 496. 
To hold a candle to the devil See devil. To hold 
bythebutton. See button. To hold copy. Seecopy. 
To hold down a claim, to reside on a section or tract of 
land long enough to establish a claim to ownership under 
the homestead law. I Western U. 8.] 
It is very common to find a lone and unprotected fe- 
male holding down a claim, as the Western phrase runs. 
Harper's Mag., LXXVII. 236. 
To hold forth, to put forward to view ; offer ; exhibit ; 
propose. 
Observe the connection of ideas in the propositions 
which books hold forth and pretend to teach as truths. 
Locke. 
To hold hands togethert, to hold hand wltht. see 
hand. To hold in, to hold with a tight rein; curb; 
hence, to restrain ; check ; repress. 
Be ye not as the horse, or as the mule, . . . whose mouth 
must be held in with bit and bridle, lest they come near 
unto thee. Ps. xxxii. 9. 
Edm. You look as you had something more to say. 
Alb. If there be more, more woful, hold it in. 
Shak., Lear, v. 8. 
To hold in balance, in hand, in play. See the nouns. 
To hold of, to possess or enjoy by grant of, or under a 
title derived from: as, to hold lands of the king. TO 
hold off, to keep off or aloof ; keep at a distance. 
Mar. You shall not go, my lord. 
Ham. Iloldo/ your hand. 
Shak., Hamlet, t 4. 
To hold on, to continue or proceed in : as, to hold on a 
course. TO hold one's dayt, to keep one's appointment. 
This knight 
Seyde had buttle his day, as be hadde hight. 
Chaucer, Wife of Bath's Tale, L 168. 
If there yon misse me, say 
I am no Gentleman : lie hold my day. 
Beyuiood, Woman Killed with Kindness. 
To hold one's hand. See hand. To hold one's nose, 
to compress the nose between the fingers in order to avoid 
perceiving a bad smell. To hold one's nose to the 
grindstone. See grindstone. 1o hold one's own, to 
keep one's present condition or advantage ; stand one's 
ground. 
It had always been taken f or granted . . . that ... an 
active militant parson . . . was to hold his ou : n against 
all comers. Trollope, Barchester Towers, xxi. 
To hold one's peace, to keep silent ; cease or refrain from 
speaking. 
The gentlemen held their peace and smiled at each other, 
as who should say, "Well! there is no accounting for 
tastes." Dickens, Nicholas Nickleby, xv. 
To hold one's tongue, to keep one's tongue still ; be 
silent. 
