held back

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Synonyms for held back

verb repress

Antonyms for held back

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Word Origin & History

Old English haldan (Anglian), healdan (West Saxon), "to contain, grasp; retain; foster, cherish," class VII strong verb (past tense heold, past participle healden), from Proto-Germanic *haldanan (cf. Old Saxon haldan, Old Frisian halda, Old Norse halda, Dutch houden, German halten "to hold," Gothic haldan "to tend"), originally "to keep, tend, watch over" (as cattle), later "to have." Ancestral sense is preserved in behold. The original past participle holden was replaced by held beginning 16c., but survives in some legal jargon and in beholden.

Hold back is 1530s, transitive; 1570s, intransitive; hold off is early 15c., transitive; c.1600, intransitive; hold out is 1520s as "to stretch forth," 1580s as "to resist pressure." Hold on is early 13c. as "to maintain one’s course," 1830 as "to keep one’s grip on something," 1846 as an order to wait or stop. To hold (one's) tongue "be silent" is from c.1300. To hold (one's) own is from early 14c. To hold (someone's) hand "give moral support" is from 1935. Phrase hold your horses "be patient" is from 1844. To have and to hold have been paired alliteratively since at least c.1200, originally of marriage but also of real estate.

Example Sentences for held back

The cavalry were advancing in a field, but they were yet held back to a slow walk.

He held back a long time: "You who are so safe in good, why know evil?"

Yet just because she wanted to do it so much, she held back.

You held back and were cold often—perhaps too often—is it too late now?

Hackett had fought and held back the frog-guards only that they might escape.

He held back the undergrowth again and peered into the depths.

Hence they hesitated and held back; nor were their fears causeless.

Angela and Poppy accepted; Esther held back with shy reluctance.

But she held back, scared and astonished at the other's appearance.

Just then Matt stirred and tried to rise but was held back by Apple.

held back

Synonyms for held back

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restricted

retained

retarded

silenced

smothered

withheld

held back

Synonyms .css-1u0ksf7{color:#d9d9d9;}for held back

Antonyms for held back

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.css-1unrqcp{color:inherit;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}restricted

retained

retarded

silenced

smothered

withheld

Synonyms for held back

restricted