Baretti: A dictionary of the English and Italian languages
Manten-ére, v. a. (V. tenere,)
1. to keep, to preserve, to maintain; 2. to govern, to steer; 3. to defend, to support, to stand by, to protect;v. n. to last, endure, remain in a certain state;s. m. Manten-itóre, f. Manten-itríce; adj. Manten-énte.
Florio: a worlde of wordes, or most copious, dictionarie in Italian and English
mantenere: to maintaine, to vphold, to sustaine, to protect, to backe, to countenance, to defend and keepe in state.