Support

7 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Support \Sup*port"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Supported}; p. pr. &
     vb. n. {Supporting}.] [F. supporter, L. supportare to carry
     on, to convey, in LL., to support, sustain; sub under +
     portare to carry. See {Port} demeanor.]
     1. To bear by being under; to keep from falling; to uphold;
        to sustain, in a literal or physical sense; to prop up; to


        bear the weight of; as, a pillar supports a structure; an
        abutment supports an arch; the trunk of a tree supports
        the branches.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. To endure without being overcome, exhausted, or changed in
        character; to sustain; as, to support pain, distress, or
        misfortunes.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              This fierce demeanor and his insolence
              The patience of a god could not support. --Dryden.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     3. To keep from failing or sinking; to solace under affictive
        circumstances; to assist; to encourage; to defend; as, to
        support the courage or spirits.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     4. To assume and carry successfully, as the part of an actor;
        to represent or act; to sustain; as, to support the
        character of King Lear.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     5. To furnish with the means of sustenance or livelihood; to
        maintain; to provide for; as, to support a family; to
        support the ministers of the gospel.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     6. To carry on; to enable to continue; to maintain; as, to
        support a war or a contest; to support an argument or a
        debate.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     7. To verify; to make good; to substantiate; to establish; to
        sustain; as, the testimony is not sufficient to support
        the charges; the evidence will not support the statements
        or allegations.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              To urge such arguments, as though they were
              sufficient to support and demonstrate a whole scheme
              of moral philosophy.                  --J. Edwards.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     8. To vindicate; to maintain; to defend successfully; as, to
        be able to support one's own cause.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     9. To uphold by aid or countenance; to aid; to help; to back
        up; as, to support a friend or a party; to support the
        present administration.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              Wherefore, bold pleasant,
              Darest thou support a published traitor? --Shak.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     10. A attend as an honorary assistant; as, a chairman
         supported by a vice chairman; O'Connell left the prison,
         supported by his two sons.
         [1913 Webster]
  
     {Support arms} (Mil.), a command in the manual of arms in
        responce to which the piece is held vertically at the
        shoulder, with the hammer resting on the left forearm,
        which is passed horizontally across the body in front;
        also, the position assumed in response to this command.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     Syn: To maintain; endure; verify; substantiate; countenance;
          patronize; help; back; second; succor; relieve; uphold;
          encourage; favor; nurture; nourish; cherish; shield;
          defend; protect; stay; assist; forward.
          [1913 Webster]

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Support \Sup*port"\, n. [F.]
     1. The act, state, or operation of supporting, upholding, or
        sustaining.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. That which upholds, sustains, or keeps from falling, as a
        prop, a pillar, or a foundation of any kind.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     3. That which maintains or preserves from being overcome,
        falling, yielding, sinking, giving way, or the like;
        subsistence; maintenance; assistance; reenforcement; as,
        he gave his family a good support, the support of national
        credit; the assaulting column had the support of a
        battery.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     {Points of support} (Arch.), the horizontal area of the
        solids of a building, walls, piers, and the like, as
        compared with the open or vacant spaces.
  
     {Right of support} (Law), an easement or servitude by which
        the owner of a house has a right to rest his timber on the
        walls of his neighbor's house. --Kent.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     Syn: Stay; prop; maintenance; subsistence; assistance; favor;
          countenance; encouragement; patronage; aid; help;
          succor; nutriment; sustenance; food.
          [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  support
       n 1: the activity of providing for or maintaining by supplying
            with money or necessities; "his support kept the family
            together"; "they gave him emotional support during
            difficult times"
       2: aiding the cause or policy or interests of; "the president
          no longer had the support of his own party"; "they
          developed a scheme of mutual support"
       3: something providing immaterial support or assistance to a
          person or cause or interest; "the policy found little
          public support"; "his faith was all the support he
          needed"; "the team enjoyed the support of their fans"
       4: a military operation (often involving new supplies of men
          and materiel) to strengthen a military force or aid in the
          performance of its mission; "they called for artillery
          support" [syn: {reinforcement}, {reenforcement}]
       5: documentary validation; "his documentation of the results
          was excellent"; "the strongest support for this this view
          is the work of Jones" [syn: {documentation}]
       6: the financial means whereby one lives; "each child was
          expected to pay for their keep"; "he applied to the state
          for support"; "he could no longer earn his own livelihood"
          [syn: {keep}, {livelihood}, {living}, {bread and butter},
          {sustenance}]
       7: supporting structure that holds up or provides a foundation;
          "the statue stood on a marble support"
       8: the act of bearing the weight of or strengthening; "he
          leaned against the wall for support" [syn: {supporting}]
       9: a subordinate musical part; provides background for more
          important parts [syn: {accompaniment}, {musical
          accompaniment}, {backup}]
       10: any device that bears the weight of another thing; "there
           was no place to attach supports for a shelf"
       11: financial resources provided to make some project possible;
           "the foundation provided support for the experiment"
           [syn: {financial support}, {funding}, {backing}, {financial
           backing}]
       v 1: give moral or psychological support, aid, or courage to;
            "She supported him during the illness"; "Her children
            always backed her up" [syn: {back up}]
       2: support materially or financially; "he does not support his
          natural children"; "The scholarship supported me when I
          was in college"
       3: be behind; approve of; "He plumped for the Labor Party"; "I
          backed Kennedy in 1960" [syn: {back}, {endorse}, {indorse},
           {plump for}, {plunk for}]
       4: be the physical support of; carry the weight of; "The beam
          holds up the roof"; "He supported me with one hand while I
          balanced on the beam"; "What's holding that mirror?" [syn:
           {hold}, {sustain}, {hold up}]
       5: establish or strengthen as with new evidence or facts; "his
          story confirmed my doubts"; "The evidence supports the
          defendant" [syn: {confirm}, {corroborate}, {sustain}, {substantiate},
           {affirm}] [ant: {negate}]
       6: adopt as a belief; "I subscribe to your view on abortion"
          [syn: {subscribe}]
       7: support with evidence or authority or make more certain or
          confirm; "The stories and claims were born out by the
          evidence" [syn: {corroborate}, {underpin}, {bear out}]
       8: argue or speak in defense of; "She supported the motion to
          strike" [syn: {defend}, {fend for}]
       9: play a subordinate role to (another performer); "Olivier
          supported Gielgud beautifully in the second act"
       10: be a regular customer or client of; "We patronize this
           store"; "Our sponsor kept our art studio going for as
           long as he could" [syn: {patronize}, {patronise}, {patronage},
            {keep going}]
       11: put up with something or somebody unpleasant; "I cannot bear
           his constant criticism"; "The new secretary had to endure
           a lot of unprofessional remarks"; "he learned to tolerate
           the heat"; "She stuck out two years in a miserable
           marriage" [syn: {digest}, {endure}, {stick out}, {stomach},
            {bear}, {stand}, {tolerate}, {brook}, {abide}, {suffer},
            {put up}]

From Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0 [moby-thes]:

  601 Moby Thesaurus words for "support":
     A-frame, Maecenas, OK, TLC, abettor, abide, abide with, accept,
     acceptance, accession, accommodate, accredit, acquiescence,
     act a part, act out, admirer, advance, advocate, affirm,
     affirmation, afford, afford hope, afford support, aficionado,
     agreement, agreement in principle, aid, aid and comfort, aliment,
     alimentation, alimony, allege in support, allotment, allowance,
     alpenstock, amen, angel, annuity, answer, anvil, apologist,
     applaud, approve, argue for, arm, assent, assentation, assert,
     assist, assistance, assurance, assure, athletic supporter,
     attend to, attest, attestation, augur well, authenticate,
     authentication, authorize, autograph, auxiliaries, baby-sit, back,
     back rest, back up, backbone, backer, backing, backing up,
     backstop, backup, bandage, bandeau, bankroll, base, beam, bear,
     bear out, bear up, bear with, bearer, bearing out, beef up,
     benefit, bid fair, bide, bit player, block, blow to, bolster,
     bolster up, bolstering, boost, bounty, bra, brace, brace up,
     bracer, bracket, brassiere, brave, bread, brook, buck up, buff,
     buoy up, buttress, buttressing, cane, capitalization, capitalize,
     care, care for, carrier, carry, case harden, certification,
     certify, cervix, champion, chaperon, cheer, cherish,
     circumstantiate, circumstantiation, clothe, column, comfort,
     commend, compliance, concurrence, condolence, confirm,
     confirmation, consent, conservancy, conservation, conservationism,
     conserve, consolation, contend for, contribute, copyright,
     corroborate, corroboration, corroboratory evidence, corset, cosign,
     countenance, counter, countersign, cradle, create a role, crook,
     crosstree, crutch, cry up, cue rest, cushion, daily bread, defend,
     defender, deficit financing, dependence, depict,
     depletion allowance, document, documentation, dole, donate, ease,
     easel, easement, economic support, elect, embolden, enact,
     encourage, encouragement, encourager, endorse, endorser, endow,
     endowment, endure, environmental conservation, espouse, exponent,
     extra, face, fan, favor, favorer, fellowship, figurant, figurante,
     fill, fill up, finance, finances, financial assistance,
     financial backing, financial support, financing, find,
     forest conservation, forest management, fortification, fortify,
     fortifying, forward, foster, foundation, foundation garment, frame,
     friend at court, fulcrum, fund, funding, furnish,
     general agreement, gird, girdle, give, give hope, give permission,
     give support, give the go-ahead, give the imprimatur,
     give thumbs up, go, go treat, good offices, grant, grant-in-aid,
     grubstake, guaranteed annual income, guard, guy, guywire, hand,
     hang in, hang in there, hang tough, harden, have good prospects,
     hearten, hearty assent, heel, help, hob, hod, hold, hold out hope,
     hold out promise, hold up, hype, impersonate, initial, inspire,
     inspire hope, inspirit, invest, invigorate, jack, jock, jockstrap,
     justify hope, keep, keep afloat, keep alive, keep intact,
     keep inviolate, keep safe, keep up, keep watch over, keeping, lap,
     lend support, lift, livelihood, living, look after, look out for,
     look to, lover, lump, lump it, mainstay, maintain, maintainer,
     maintenance, make a plea, make available, make fair promise,
     make provision for, manna, mast, matronize, maulstick, meat, mind,
     minister to, ministration, ministry, mother, mothering,
     music stand, mute, neck, nerve, nominate, not destroy,
     not endanger, not expend, not use up, not waste, notarize,
     nourishment, nurse, nurture, nutriment, office, offices,
     old-age insurance, pabulum, pap, paranymph, partisan, pass,
     pass on, pass upon, patent, patron, patronization, patronize,
     pay for, pay the bill, pay the bills, paying the bills,
     pecuniary aid, pension, pension off, permit, persevere, personate,
     pillar, pillow, play a part, play a role, play opposite, plead for,
     plug, portray, prepare, present, preserval, preservation, preserve,
     price support, probate, promise, promote, promoter, proof, prop,
     prop up, protagonist, protect, protection, protege, prove, provide,
     provide for, proving, proving out, provision, provision of capital,
     public assistance, public welfare, puff, pull, put up with,
     raise expectations, raise hope, raker, ratification, ratify,
     ratline, reassurance, reassure, rebut, recommend, recruit,
     refection, refinance, refresh, refreshment, refute, register,
     reinforce, reinforcement, reinforcements, reinforcer, reinvigorate,
     reliance, relief, remedy, replenish, reply, represent, rescue,
     reserve forces, reserves, respond, rest, resting place,
     restrengthen, retirement benefits, rib, ride herd on, rigging,
     riposte, rubber stamp, safekeeping, salt, salvage, salvation,
     sanction, save, saving, say amen to, say in defense, scholarship,
     scissors truss, seal, second, seconder, sectary, see after, see to,
     service, set up, shepherd, shoe, shore, shore up, shoring,
     shoulder, shred of comfort, shroud, side with, sider, sign,
     sign and seal, skid, soil conservation, solace, solacement, sole,
     spare, spare the price, speak for, speak highly of, speak up for,
     speak warmly of, speak well of, spear-carrier, spine, splint,
     sponsor, sponsorship, sprit, staff, stake, stalwart, stand,
     stand by, stand drinks, stand for, stand to, stand treat,
     stand up for, stand-in, standby, standing rigging, standing treat,
     stave, stay, steel, stick, stick up for, stiffen, stiffener,
     stilts, stipend, stirrup, stock, stomach, store,
     stream conservation, strengthen, strengthener, strengthening,
     strut, submit to, subscribe to, subsidization, subsidize, subsidy,
     subsistence, substantiate, substantiation, substitute,
     substructure, subvention, subventionize, succor, suffer, supe,
     super, supernumerary, supply, supporter, supporting actor,
     supporting cast, supporting evidence, sustain, sustain a part,
     sustainer, sustainment, sustenance, sustentation, swallow,
     swear and affirm, swear to, sympathizer, sympathy, take,
     take a part, take care of, take charge of, tax benefit, temper,
     tend, tender loving care, therapy, tolerate, toughen, tout, treat,
     treat to, tripod, trivet, truss, underbrace, undergird,
     undergirding, undergo, underlie, underpin, underpinning, underset,
     undersign, understudy, underwrite, upbear, uphold, upholder,
     upkeep, urge reasons for, validate, validation, verification,
     verify, visa, vise, votary, vote, vouch for, walk-on,
     walking gentleman, walking stick, warm assent, warrant, watch,
     watch out for, watch over, water conservation, weather, welcome,
     welfare, welfare aid, welfare payments, well afford, well-wisher,
     wetlands conservation, wildlife conservation, withstand, yield
  
  

From Jargon File (4.3.1, 29 Jun 2001) [jargon]:

  support n. After-sale handholding; something many software vendors
     promise but few deliver. To hackers, most support people are useless --
     because by the time a hacker calls support he or she will usually know
     the software and the relevant manuals better than the support people
     (sadly, this is _not_ a joke or exaggeration). A hacker's idea of
     `support' is a te^te-a`-te^te with the software's designer.
  
  

From The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (27 SEP 03) [foldoc]:

  support
       
          After-sale handholding; something many software vendors
          promise but few deliver.  To hackers, most support people are
          useless - because by the time a hacker calls support he or she
          will usually know the software and the relevant manuals better
          than the support people (sadly, this is *not* a joke or
          exaggeration).  A hacker's idea of "support" is a tęte-ŕ-tęte
          or exchange of {electronic mail} with the software's designer.
       
          [{Jargon File}]
       
          (1995-02-15)
       
       

From Bouvier's Law Dictionary, Revised 6th Ed (1856) [bouvier]:

  SUPPORT. The right of support is an easement which one man, either by 
  contract or prescription, enjoys, to rest the joists or timbers of his house 
  upon the wall of an adjoining building, owned by another person. 3 Kent, 
  Com. 435. Vide Lois des Bat. part. 1, c. 3, s. a. 1, Sec. T; Party wall.