Quick Definition
I keep safe, hold fast
Strong's Definition
to watch thoroughly, i.e. (positively and transitively) to observe strictly, or (negatively and reflexively) to avoid wholly
Derivation: from G1223 (διά) and G5083 (τηρέω);
KJV Usage: keep
Thayer's Greek Lexicon
διατηρέω, διατήρω; 3 person singular imperfect διετήρει; to keep continually or carefully (see διά, C. 2): Luk_2:51 (Gen_37:11); ἐμαυτόν ἐκ τίνος (cf. τηρεῖν ἐκ τίνος, Joh_17:15), to keep oneself (pure) from a thing, Act_15:29; ἀπό τίνος for ωΘΡξΗψ followed by ξΔο, Psalm 11:8 (). (Plato, Demosthenes, Polybius, others.)
Mounce Concise Greek Dictionary
διατηρέω diatēreō 2x
to watch carefully, guard with vigilance; to treasure up, Luk_2:51 ; ἑαυτὸν ἐκ , to keep one s self from, to abstain wholly from, Act_15:29
Abbott-Smith Greek Lexicon
δια -τηρέω , -ῶ ,
[in LXX for H8104 , H5341 , etc.; seq . ἀπό (for H4480 ), as in Psa_12:7 (8);]
to keep carefully: Luk_2:51 ; seq . ἐκ , Act_15:29 .†
Moulton & Milligan — Vocabulary of the Greek NT
διατηρέω [page 155]
P Petr II. 29 ( e ) .2 (Ptol.) διατήρει ἐπιμελῶς καὶ ἐπιμέλου αὐτ [ῶν , P Grenf II. 14 ( a ) .16 (B.C. 270 or 233) δ [ι ]ὰ τὸ διατετηρηκέναι ἐμαυτὸν μηδένα τρόπον ἐνοχλεῖν , Syll 246 .7 (B.C. 220 16) ὅπως ἂν παρ᾽ ἑκατέρων τῶι [δ ]ήμωι ἥ τε φιλί [α κ ]αὶ ἡ εἰρήνη διατηρῆται , ib. 521 .76 (B.C. 100) διετήρησεν δὲ αὐτῶν καὶ τὴν πρὸς ἀλλ [ήλ ]ους ὁμόνοιαν καὶ φιλίαν δι᾽ ὅλου τοῦ ἐνια [υ ]τοῦ . In the magic papyrus P Lond 46 .44 (iv/A.D.) (= I. p. 66) we have διατήρησόν με καὶ τὸν παῖδα τοῦτον ἀπημάντους ἐν ὀνόματι τοῦ ὑψίστου θεοῦ : cf. ib. 121 .453 (iii/A.D.) (= I. p. 99). On the perfective force in the compound see P Leid U ii. 21 (ii/B.C.) the dream of Nectonebus, the last Egyptian King of the old dynasties, where we have a striking parallel to 2Ti_4:7 διατετήρηκα τὴν χώραν ἀμέμπτως . The perfective in the King s words emphasises the fact that the watchful care has been successful; the simplex in Paul lays the stress on the speaker s own action, I have guarded my trust ( Proleg. p. 237, cf. p. 116).
Liddell-Scott — Intermediate Greek Lexicon
διατηρέω fut. ήσω "to watch closely, observe", Plat. , etc. "to keep faithfully, maintain", Dem. , Arist. δ. ἑαυτὸν ἔκ τινος "to keep" oneself from . . , NTest.
STEPBible — Tyndale Abridged Greek Lexicon
δια-τηρέω, -ῶ
[in LXX for שָׁמַר, נָצַר, etc.; before ἀπό (for מִן), as in Psa.12:7 (8) ;]
to keep carefully: Luk.2:51; before ἐκ, Act.15:29.†
(AS)