Lexical Definition

‎κρατέω‎ kratéō (krat-eh'-o) to grasp/seize ^G:V
from ‎κράτος‎

hold (by, fast), keep, lay hand (hold) on, obtain, retain, take (by).

• to use strength, i.e. seize or retain (literally or figuratively)

Abbott-Smith

κρατέω, -ῶ (< κράτος), [in LXX chiefly for חזק hi., also for אחז, etc.;]
1. to be strong, mighty, hence, to rule, be master, prevail (so chiefly in cl.; in LXX: Es 1:1, I Es 4:38, Wi 14:19, al.).
2. to get possession of, obtain, take hold of (Hdt., Thuc., al.): c. gen. rei (M, Pr., 65), Ac 27:13; τ. χειρός, Mt 9:25, Mk 1:31 5:41 9:27, Lk 8:54; c. acc. rei, Mt 12:11; c. acc. pers., Mt 14:3 18:28 21:46 22:6 26:4, 48 ff., Mk 3:21 6:17 12:12 14:1, 44 ff., Ac 3:11 24:6, Re 20:2 (cf. II Ki 6:6).
3. to hold, hold fast (Æsch., Polyb., al.): c. acc. rei, ἐν τ. δεξιᾷ, Re 2:1. Metaph.: c. acc. pers., pass., Ac 2:24; c. acc. rei, Re 2:13, 25 3:11; τ. κεφαλήν (i.e. Christ), Col 2:19; τ. παράδοσιν (-εις), λόγον, διδαχήν, Mk 7:3, 4, 8 9:10, II Th 2:15, Re 2:14, 15; c. gen. rei, He 4:14 6:18; of sins, to retain, Jo 20:23; of restraint, seq. ἵνα μή, Re 7:1; pass., seq. τοῦ μή, Lk 24:16.†

Abbott-Smith References

Liddell-Scott-Jones

κρατέω-έω,

Aeolic dialect κρετέω, aorist infinitive κρέτησαι [Refs 7th c.BC+] — middle, aorist ἐπι-κρατησάμενοι[Refs 2nd c.AD+]:—passive, future κρατήσομαι [Refs 1st c.AD+] and, with variant{κρατηθήσομαι}, [Refs 5th c.BC+]:—to be strong, powerful: hence,

__I absolutely, rule, hold sway, Ἤλιδα.., ὅθι κρατέουσιν Ἐπειοί [Refs 8th c.BC+]; μέγα κρατέων ἤνασσε with mighty sway.., [Refs 8th c.BC+]; ὁ κρατῶν the ruler, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἡ κρατοῦσα the lady of the house [Refs 4th c.BC+]
__I.2 in Poets, with dative, rule among, μέγα κρατέεις νεκύεσσιν [Refs 8th c.BC+]; Φθίᾳ rule in Phthia, [Refs 5th c.BC+]
__I.3 with genitive, to be lord or master of, rule over, πάντων Ἀργείων, πάντων, [Refs 8th c.BC+]; κ. τοῦ βίου to be master of.., [Refs 5th c.BC+]; τοῦ μὴ πείθεσθαι τοῖς νόμοις κρατῆσαι to be above obedience.., [Refs 5th c.BC+]
__II conquer, prevail, get the upper hand, absolutely, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; πλοῖα; πάλᾳ, ἱπποδρομίᾳ, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; τὴν μάχην variant for{τῇ μάχῃ} in [Refs 1st c.BC+]; πάντα in all things, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; οἱ κρατοῦντες the conquerors, [Refs 5th c.BC+]
__II.b to be superior, πλήθους ἕκατι ναυσὶν κρατῆσαι [Refs 4th c.BC+]: absolutely, to be the best, [Refs 5th c.BC+]
__II.c of reports, etc., prevail, become current, φάτις κρατεῖ [Refs 5th c.BC+]
__II.2 c.infinitive, prevail so that, κ. τῷ πλήθει ὥστε μὴ αὐτίκα τὰς πύλας ἀνοίγεσθαι [Refs 5th c.BC+] 'tis better to.., [Refs 5th c.BC+]
__II.3 c.genitive, conquer, prevail over, τῶν ἐναντίων [Refs 5th c.BC+]; κ. τῆς διαβολῆς get the better of it, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ὁ λόγος τοῦ ἔργου ἐκράτει surpassed, went beyond it, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἡ φύσις.. τῶν διδαγμάτων κρατεῖ is better than.., [Refs 4th c.BC+]
__II.3.b of food, digest, assimilate, [Refs 5th c.BC+]:—passive, [Refs 5th c.BC+]
__II.4 c.accusative, conquer, master, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; μάχῃ, τῷ πολέμῳ τινά, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; πάχει μάκει τε in.., [Refs 5th c.BC+]; outdo, τοὺς φίλους εὖ ποιῶν [Refs 5th c.BC+]; surpass, κρατεῖ δὲ ὁ τῆς ἡδονῆς [βίος] τὸν τῆς φρονήσεως [Refs 5th c.BC+]:—passive, to be overcome, [Refs 5th c.BC+]
__III become master of, get possession of, τῆς ἀρχῆς, τῶν νεκρῶν, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; κ. τῆς λέξεως have it at command, remember it, [Refs 2nd c.AD+]; master by the intellect, πάντων τῶν τῆς ἱστορίας μερῶν [Refs 2nd c.BC+]:—passive, to be mastered, δεῖ ἐν ταῖς τέχναις καὶ ἐπιστήμαις ταῦτα κρατεῖσθαι [Refs 4th c.BC+]
__IV lay hold of, τῆς χειρός [LXX+NT]
__IV.2 c.accusative of things, seize, win and keep, especiallyby force, πᾶσαν αἶαν [Refs 5th c.BC+]; seize, hold fast, arrest, τινα [NT+2nd c.BC+]; secure, grasp, τὴν ἀκατονόμαστον Τριάσα[Refs 5th c.BC+]
__IV.3 hold up, support, τινα [Refs 1st c.BC+]; maintain a military post, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; hold fast, τὰς παραδόσεις [NT]; keep, retain, [Refs 2nd c.BC+]:—passive, οὐκ ἦν δυνατὸν κρατεῖσθαι αὐτὸν ὑπ᾽ αὐτοῦ (i.e. τοῦ θανάτου) [NT]; ἡ κτῆσις τοῖς τέκνοις κεκράτηται has been reserved for, settled upon, [Refs 2nd c.AD+]
__IV.4 in Law, possess a title to, κ. καὶ κυριεύειν c.genitive, [Refs 3rd c.AD+]: absolutely, tumult, uproar, [Refs 8th c.BC+]
__IV.5 hold in the hand, ὁ κρατῶν τοὺς ἑπτὰ ἀδτέρας ἐν τῇ δεξιᾷ αὐτοῦ [NT+1st c.AD+], etc.; δακτύλιον [Refs 4th c.AD+]
__IV.6 endure, put up with, τὸν ἀργυροπράτην [Refs 6th c.AD+]
__V control, command, [Refs 5th c.BC+] —passive, αἰσχρὰ τῷ νόμῳ κρατούμενα controlled by.., [Refs 5th c.BC+]
__VI repair, make good, τὸ βεδὲκ (Hebrew) τοῦ οἴκου [LXX]

_{LSJ Scripture Refs: LXX.Gen.19.16 ☩ Matt.9.25 ☩ Mark.9.27 ☩ Matt.14.3 ☩ 2Thess.2.15 ☩ Acts.2.24 ☩ Rev.2.1 ☩ LXX.2Kgs.12.5*}