Word Study
withhold
CIDE DICTIONARY
withhold, v. t. [With again, against, back + hold.].
- To hold back; to restrain; to keep from action. [1913 Webster]"Withhold, O sovereign prince, your hasty hand
From knitting league with him." [1913 Webster] - To retain; to keep back; not to grant; as, to withhold assent to a proposition. [1913 Webster]"Forbid who will, none shall from me withhold
Longer thy offered good." [1913 Webster] - To keep; to maintain; to retain. [1913 Webster]"To withhold it the more easily in heart." [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
withhold, v.tr. (past and past part. -held)
1 (often foll. by from) hold back; restrain.
2 refuse to give, grant, or allow (withhold one's consent; withhold the truth).
1 (often foll. by from) hold back; restrain.
2 refuse to give, grant, or allow (withhold one's consent; withhold the truth).
Derivative
withholder n.
Etymology
ME f. with- away (as WITH) + HOLD(1)
THESAURUS
withhold
abstain, abstain from, arrest, avoid, begrudge, bit, bosom, bridle, check, classify, close the hand, conceal, conserve, constrain, contain, control, cool, cool off, curb, curtail, decelerate, deny, detain, disallow, do without, dompt, enjoin, eschew, file and forget, forbear, forgo, govern, grudge, guard, hinder, hold, hold aloof from, hold at bay, hold back, hold down, hold fast, hold in, hold in check, hold in leash, hold out on, hold up, husband, in petto, inhibit, keep, keep back, keep between us, keep buttoned up, keep by one, keep close, keep dark, keep from, keep in, keep in check, keep in ignorance, keep in reserve, keep in store, keep mum, keep on hand, keep out, keep secret, keep snug, keep under control, keep under wraps, lay by, lay under restraint, let alone, let go by, make no sign, never let on, never touch, not give away, not tell, not touch, pass up, play dumb, preserve, prohibit, pull, pull in, put apart, put aside, put by, refrain, refrain from, refuse, rein, rein in, reserve, restrain, retain, retard, retrench, save, save up, secrete, set apart, set aside, set back, set by, shun, slow down, snub, spare, stand aloof from, straiten, veilROGET THESAURUS
withhold
Restraint
VB restrain, check, put under restraint, lay under restraint, enthral, enthrall, inthral, inthrall, bethral, bethrall, restrict, debar, constrain, coerce, curb, control, hold back, hold from, hold in, hold in check, hold within bounds, keep back, keep from, keep in, keep in check, keep within bounds, hold in leash, hold in leading strings, withhold, keep under, repress, suppress, smother, pull in, rein in, hold, hold fast, keep a tight hand on, prohibit, inhibit, cohibit, enchain, fasten, fetter, shackle, entrammel, bridle, muzzle, hopple, gag, pinion, manacle, handcuff, tie one's hands, hobble, bind hand and foot, swathe, swaddle, pin down, tether, picket, tie down, tie up, secure, forge fetters, disable, hamstring (incapacitate), confine, shut up, shut in, clap up, lock up, box up, mew up, bottle up, cork up, seal up, button up, hem in, bolt in, wall in, rail in, impound, pen, coop, inclose, cage, incage, encage, close the door upon, cloister, imprison, immure, incarcerate, entomb, clap under hatches, lay under hatches, put in irons, put in a strait-waistcoat, throw into prison, cast into prison, put into bilboes, arrest, take up, take charge of, take into custody, take prisoner, take captive, make prisoner, make captive, captivate, lead captive, lead into captivity, send to prison, commit to prison, commit, give in charge, give in custody, subjugate.Prohibition
VB prohibit, inhibit, forbid, put one's veto upon, disallow, enjoin, ban, outlaw, taboo, proscribe, estop, bar, debar, forefend, keep in, keep within bounds, restrain, cohibit, withhold, limit, circumscribe, clip the wings of, restrict, interdict, taboo, put under an interdiction, place under an interdiction, put under the ban, place under the ban, proscribe, exclude, shut out, shut the door, bolt the door, show the door, warn off, dash the cup from one's lips, forbid the banns.Retention
VB retain, keep, hold fast one's own, hold tight one's own, hold fast one's ground, hold tight one's ground, clinch, clench, clutch, grasp, gripe, hug, have a firm hold of, secure, withhold, detain, hold back, keep back, keep close, husband, reserve, have in stock, have on hand, keep in stock, entail, tie up, settle.Parsimony
VB be parsimonious, grudge, begrudge, stint, pinch, gripe, screw, dole out, hold back, withhold, starve, famish, live upon nothing, skin a flint, drive a bargain, drive a hard bargain, cheapen, beat down, stop one hole in a sieve, have an itching palm, grasp, grab.Concealment
VB conceal, hide, secrete, put out of sight, lock up, seal up, bottle up, encrypt, encode, cipher, cover, screen, cloak, veil, shroud, cover up one's tracks, screen from sight, screen from observation, drawing the veil, draw the curtain, close the curtain, curtain, shade, eclipse, throw a view over, be cloud, be mask, mask, disguise, ensconce, muffle, smother, befog, whisper, keep from, keep back, keep to oneself, keep snug, keep close, keep secret, keep dark, bury, sink, suppress, keep from, keep from out of view, keep from out of sight, keep in the shade, throw into the shade, throw into background, stifle, hush up, smother, withhold, reserve, fence with a question, ignore, keep a secret, keep one's own counsel, hold one's tongue, make no sign, not let it go further, not breathe a word, not breathe a syllable about, not let the right hand know what the left is doing, hide one's light under a bushel, bury one's talent in a napkin, keep in the dark, leave in the dark, keep in the ignorance, blind, blind the eyes, blindfold, hoodwink, mystify, puzzle, bamboozle, be concealed, suffer an eclipse, retire from sight, couch, hide oneself, lie hid, lie in perdu, lie in close, lie in ambush (ambush), seclude oneself, lurk, sneak, skulk, slink, prowl, steal into, steal out of, steal by, steal along, play at bopeep, play at hide and seek, hide in holes and corners, still hunt.For further exploring for "withhold" in Webster Dictionary Online