to keep one's terms
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
To reside in college, attend the Inns of Court, etc., during the recognized term times.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “to keep one's terms” mean?
To reside in college, attend the Inns of Court, etc., during the recognized term times.
Is “to keep one's terms” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.