Kept endless belt in hard environs (4)

I believe the answer is:

held

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'kept' is the definition.
(holding is a kind of keeping)

'endless belt in hard environs' is the wordplay.
'endless' says to take the centre.
'in' is an insertion indicator.
'hard environs' becomes 'hd' (I can't explain this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
The centre of 'belt' is 'el'.
'el' inserted within 'hd' is 'HELD'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for held that I've seen before include "Gripped" , "Clasped" , "Retained; grasped" , "Defended successfully" , "Grasped, carried" .)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.

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