loosely-held
|loose-ly-held|
B2
/ˈluːsli hɛld/
not tightly controlled
Etymology
Etymology Information
'loosely-held' originates from the combination of 'loose' and 'hold', where 'loose' meant 'not tight' and 'hold' meant 'to grasp or control'.
Historical Evolution
'Loose' and 'hold' have been used in English since the Middle Ages, evolving from Old English 'losian' and 'healdan'.
Meaning Changes
Initially, 'loose' meant 'free from bonds', and 'hold' meant 'to grasp'. Together, they evolved to describe something not tightly controlled.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
not firmly or tightly held or controlled.
The company is a loosely-held conglomerate with various independent subsidiaries.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/05/16 08:33