Athold

/əˈθoʊld/ adverb

Definition

In a state of being held or maintained in position; in restraint or under control.

Etymology

Middle English or Old English compound: a- (prefix meaning 'in' or 'on') plus hold. This archaic form survives mainly in nautical or historical contexts.

Kelly Says

Athold is almost completely gone from English now, but it survives in old maritime logs and documents—sailors needed specific words for how their ships were held in place, and this was one of those technical terms that died with the era.

Related Words

Explore More Words

Get the Word Orb API

Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.