Meaning

verb keep or maintain in unaltered condition; cause to remain or last

verb stand up for; stick up for; of causes, principles, or ideals

verb support against an opponent

originFrom Middle English upholden, equivalent to up- + hold. Compare Dutch ophouden (“to stop, cease, hold up”), German aufhalten (“to stop, halt, detain”). Compare also Middle Low German upholt, Old Norse upphald (“uphold, support”).

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 3.0