Upheld

Part of speech: verb

Pronunciation: /ʌpˈhɛld/

Definitions

1. Supported or maintained a decision, ruling, or principle as correct or valid
2. Affirmed or confirmed the validity of a judgment or rule through authority or agreement
3. Endorsed and preserved a choice, law, or belief as justified or proper

Etymology: "Upheld" is the past tense and past participle of "uphold," which combines "up" with "hold." The verb came into Middle English as "upholden," and its closest relatives across the Germanic languages still carry the sense of stopping or holding back. Dutch "ophouden" means to stop or cease, and German "aufhalten" means to halt or detain someone. Old Norse "upphald" meant to support or sustain, and Middle Low German had a similar form. The modern sense of backing a decision or principle grows naturally from that physical picture of holding something up so it does not fall. To uphold a ruling is to keep it standing against challenge, much as a pillar keeps a roof from collapsing. The metaphor of physical support became one of maintaining something in place, and from there of sustaining a judgment or belief as valid.

Synonyms: supported, sustained, affirmed, maintained, validated

Antonyms: overturned, abandoned, rejected