entretenir

maintain, keep up

verb ahn-truh-tuh-NEER Less Common

Origin: French entre- + tenir (to hold between)

Also means

converse, chat

Usage Note

Entretenir covers physical maintenance (entretenir une maison — 'to maintain a house') and sustaining a relationship or conversation (entretenir une relation). The reflexive s'entretenir avec quelqu'un means 'to have a conversation with someone'. The noun is entretien (maintenance, interview, conversation).

Examples

"Il faut entretenir le jardin régulièrement."

Natural Translation

The garden must be maintained regularly.

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