withhold

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See also: with-hold

English

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Alternative forms

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Etymology

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From Middle English withholden. Equivalent to with- +‎ hold.

Pronunciation

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Verb

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withhold (third-person singular simple present withholds, present participle withholding, simple past withheld, past participle withheld or (rare, archaic) withholden)

  1. (transitive) To keep (a physical object that one has obtained) to oneself rather than giving it back to its owner.
    The bank withheld her credit card.
  2. (transitive) To keep (information, assent etc) to oneself rather than revealing it.
    withhold vital information
    a withheld phone number
  3. (intransitive) To stay back, to refrain.
    I’ll withhold from asking about it.

Synonyms

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  • (keep (a physical object) to oneself): retain

Derived terms

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Translations

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The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.

Noun

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withhold (plural withholds)

  1. (Scientology) An immoral action or condition (an overt) that has not been disclosed to others; the consciousness of such an action or condition.
    • 1972, Robert Kaufman, Inside Scientology: How I Joined Scientology and Became Superhuman, →ISBN, page 150:
      I was afraid to go into review for the help I needed because of the withholds I had against the organization, withholds acquired at the franchise: our late evening discussions, our kidding around at the expense of other Scientologists.
    • 1976, Nathaniel Lande, Mindstyles, Lifestyles, →ISBN, page 133:
      Dianetics is concerned with purifying the individual of negative emotions, evil spirits, overts, and withholds.
    • 2022, Mike Rinder, A Billion Years: My Escape from a Life in the Highest Ranks of Scientology, →ISBN, pages 138–9:
      The scientology theory is that marriages fail because one or both partners have undisclosed withholds, and when they confess these to their spouse their desire to end the relationship is dissipated and the marriage is saved.

Derived terms

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