With·hold v. t. [imp. Withheld p. p. Withheld, Obs. or Archaic Withholden p. pr. & vb. n. Withholding.]
1. To hold back; to restrain; to keep from action.
Withhold, O sovereign prince, your hasty hand
From knitting league with him. --Spenser.
2. To retain; to keep back; not to grant; as, to withhold assent to a proposition.
Forbid who will, none shall from me withhold
Longer thy offered good. --Milton.
3. To keep; to maintain; to retain. [Obs.]
To withhold it the more easily in heart. --Chaucer.
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withhold
v 1: hold back; refuse to hand over or share; "The father is
withholding the allowance until the son cleans his room"
[syn: keep back]
2: retain and refrain from disbursing; of payments; "My
employer is withholding taxes" [syn: deduct, recoup]
[also: withheld]