Supporting

3 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.
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     2. To endure without being overcome, exhausted, or changed in
        character; to sustain; as, to support pain, distress, or
        misfortunes.
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              This fierce demeanor and his insolence
              The patience of a god could not support. --Dryden.
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     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.
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     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.
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     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.
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     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.
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     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.
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              To urge such arguments, as though they were
              sufficient to support and demonstrate a whole scheme
              of moral philosophy.                  --J. Edwards.
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     8. To vindicate; to maintain; to defend successfully; as, to
        be able to support one's own cause.
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     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.
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              Wherefore, bold pleasant,
              Darest thou support a published traitor? --Shak.
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     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.
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     {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.
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     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.
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From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  supporting
       adj 1: furnishing support and encouragement; "the anxious child
              needs supporting and accepting treatment from the
              teacher" [syn: {encouraging}]
       2: capable of bearing a structural load; "a supporting wall"
          [syn: {load-bearing(a)}, {supporting(a)}]
       n : the act of bearing the weight of or strengthening; "he
           leaned against the wall for support" [syn: {support}]

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

  35 Moby Thesaurus words for "supporting":
     advocating, approving, back of, backing, bearing, behind,
     bolstering, bracing, burdened, buttressing, carrying, confirmative,
     confirmatory, confirming, corroborating, corroborative,
     corroboratory, favorable, favoring, holding, in support of,
     maintaining, pro, propping, shoring, substantiating, supportive,
     suspensory, sustaining, sustentative, upholding, verificative,
     verifying, well-disposed, well-inclined