Quick Definition
διατηρέω v. I keep safe, hold fast
Strong's Definition
from 1223 and 5083; to watch thoroughly, i.e. (positively and transitively) to observe strictly, or (negatively and reflexively) to avoid wholly
KJV Usage: keep
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament
verb | τηρέω
13.153 · Be, Become, Exist, Happen · Happen
to avoid, to keep from doing to keep oneself from doing something, with the implication of duration
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament © United Bible Societies, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Thayer's Greek Lexicon
δια-τηρέω, -ῶ ; 3 pers. sing. impf. διετήρει ; to keep continually or carefully (see διά, C. 2): Lk. ii. 51, (Gen. XXXVii. 11); ἐμαυτὸν ἔκ τινος (cf. τηρεῖν ἔκ τινος, Jn. xvii. 15), to keep one’s self (pure) from a thing, Acts xv. 29; ἀπό twos for 7¥ foll. by 713, Ps. xi. (xii-) 8. (Plat., Dem., Polyb., al.)
Mounce Concise Greek Dictionary
διατηρέω diatēreō 2x
to watch carefully, guard with vigilance; to treasure up, Lk. 2:51; ἑαυτὸν ἐκ, to keep one’s self from, to abstain wholly from, Acts 15:29*
Abbott-Smith Greek Lexicon
δια-τηρέω, -ῶ
[in LXX for שׁמר, נצר, etc.; seq. ἀπό (for מִן), as in Ps 11 (12):8;]
to keep carefully: Lk 2:51; seq. ἐκ, Ac 15:29.†
Moulton & Milligan — Vocabulary of the Greek NT
διατηρέω. P Petr IL. 29 (e)* (Ptol.) διατήρει ἐπιμελῶς καὶ ἐπιμέλου αὐτ[ῶν, 1 Grenf II. 14 (a)!§ (B.c. 270 or 233) δ[ι]ὰ τὸ διατετηρηκέναι ἐμαυτὸν μηδένα τρόπον ἐνοχλεῖν, Sy// 2467 (B.C. 220-16) ὅπως ἂν παρ᾽ ἑκατέρων τῶι [δ]ήμωι ἥ τε prifa κ]αὶ ἢ εἰρήνη διατηρῆται, 20. 5217° (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 465: (iv/A.p.) (=I. p. 66) we have διατήρησόν με Kal τὸν παῖδα τοῦτον ἀπημάντους ἐν ὀνόματι τοῦ ὑψίστου θεοῦ: cf. 16. 12148 (111}Ὰ.}.} (=I. p. 99). On the ‘‘ perfective” force in the compound see 1 Leid Ui! 51. (ii/B.c.) the dream of Nectonebus, the last Egyptian King of the old dynasties, where we have a striking parallel to 2 Tim 4’— 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 gwarded my trust’” (Pro/ Ῥ- 237, cf. p. 116).
Liddell-Scott-Jones — Greek-English Lexicon
διατηρέω (diatēreō) — to keep. διατηρ-έω, Boeotian dialect δια-τᾱρέω [Refs 2nd c.BC+], but Doric dialect δια-τηρέω [Refs]:— watch closely, observe, [Refs 5th c.BC+]
2. maintain, τὴν ἐλευθερίαν Decrees cited in [Refs 4th c.BC+] —middle, -εῖται τὸν καιρόν observes,[Refs]:—passive, ὅταν διατηρηθῶσιν οἱ νόμοι τῇ πόλει [Refs 4th c.BC+]
3. with predicates, βοῦς ἐννέα ἔτη δ. ἀνοχεύτους [Refs 4th c.BC+]
4. δ. ἑαυτὸν ἔκ τινος keep oneself from.., [NT]