Keep'er, n.
n. 1. One who keeps; one who holds or has possession of any thing.
- One who retains in custody; one who has the care of a prison and the custody of prisoners.
- One who has the care, custody, or superintendence of any thing; as, the keeper of a park, a pound, of sheep, of a gate, &c.
- One who keeps himself, or remains. Titus ii. 5.
- A ring serving to keep another on the finger.
Keeper of the forest (O. Eng. Law), an officer who had the principal government of all things relating to the forest, and the control of all officers belonging to it. Burvill.—Keeper of the Great Seal, a high officer of state, who holds or keeps the great seal. The office is now united with that of lord chancellor.—Keeper of the Privy Seal (styled also Lord Privy Seal), a high officer of state, through whose hands pass all charters, pardons, &c., before they come to the great seal. He is a privy councillor, and was anciently called Clerk of the Privy Seal. See CHANCELLOR. [Great Britain.] Tomlins. Craig.—Keeper of a magnet, a piece of iron which connects the two poles, for the purpose of keeping the magnetic power undiminished; an armature.