Held on to (7)
<span class="explanation-format__ClueExplanation">'<span class="explanation-format__original">held on to</span>' is the definition.<br/ ><span class="explanation-format__explanation">(I've seen this in another clue)</span><br/ ><br/ >This is all the clue.<br/ ></span>
<span class="explanation-format__ClueExplanation">'<span class="explanation-format__original">held on to</span>' is the definition.<br/ ><span class="explanation-format__explanation">('keep' can be a synonym of 'hold on to')</span><br/ ><br/ >This is the entire clue.<br/ ></span>
(Other definitions for kept that I've seen before include "Saved" , "Retained, held back" , "Looked after" , "Maintained, detained" , "Retained possession" .)
(Other definitions for clung that I've seen before include "Held on desperately" , "Was emotionally close" , "Held on tight" , "Held on tightly" .)