Sustain

4 definitions found

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

  Sustain \Sus*tain"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Sustained}; p. pr. &
     vb. n. {Sustaining}.] [OE. sustenen, susteinen, OF. sustenir,
     sostenir, F. soutenir (the French prefix is properly fr. L.
     subtus below, fr. sub under), L. sustinere; pref. sus- (see
     {Sub-}) + tenere to hold. See {Tenable}, and cf.
     {Sustenance}.]


     1. To keep from falling; to bear; to uphold; to support; as,
        a foundation sustains the superstructure; a beast sustains
        a load; a rope sustains a weight.
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              Every pillar the temple to sustain.   --Chaucer.
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     2. Hence, to keep from sinking, as in despondence, or the
        like; to support.
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              No comfortable expectations of another life to
              sustain him under the evils in this world.
                                                    --Tillotson.
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     3. To maintain; to keep alive; to support; to subsist; to
        nourish; as, provisions to sustain an army.
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     4. To aid, comfort, or relieve; to vindicate. --Shak.
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              His sons, who seek the tyrant to sustain. --Dryden.
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     5. To endure without failing or yielding; to bear up under;
        as, to sustain defeat and disappointment.
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     6. To suffer; to bear; to undergo.
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              Shall Turnus, then, such endless toil sustain?
                                                    --Dryden.
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              You shall sustain more new disgraces. --Shak.
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     7. To allow the prosecution of; to admit as valid; to
        sanction; to continue; not to dismiss or abate; as, the
        court sustained the action or suit.
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     8. To prove; to establish by evidence; to corroborate or
        confirm; to be conclusive of; as, to sustain a charge, an
        accusation, or a proposition.
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     Syn: To support; uphold; subsist; assist; relieve; suffer;
          undergo.
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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Sustain \Sus*tain"\, n.
     One who, or that which, upholds or sustains; a sustainer.
     [Obs.]
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           I waked again, for my sustain was the Lord. --Milton.
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From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  sustain
       v 1: lengthen or extend in duration or space; "We sustained the
            diplomatic negociations as long as possible"; "prolong
            the treatment of the patient"; "keep up the good work"
            [syn: {prolong}, {keep up}]
       2: undergo (as of injuries and illnesses); "She suffered a
          fracture in the accident"; "He had an insulin shock after
          eating three candy bars"; "She got a bruise on her leg";
          "He got his arm broken in the scuffle" [syn: {suffer}, {have},
           {get}]
       3: provide with nourishment; "We sustained ourselves on bread
          and water"; "This kind of food is not nourishing for young
          children" [syn: {nourish}, {nurture}]
       4: supply with necessities and support; "She alone sustained
          her family"; "The money will sustain our good cause";
          "There's little to earn and many to keep" [syn: {keep}, {maintain}]
       5: 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}, {support}, {hold up}]
       6: admit as valid; "The court sustained the motion"
       7: establish or strengthen as with new evidence or facts; "his
          story confirmed my doubts"; "The evidence supports the
          defendant" [syn: {confirm}, {corroborate}, {substantiate},
           {support}, {affirm}] [ant: {negate}]

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

  257 Moby Thesaurus words for "sustain":
     abide, abide with, admit, advocate, affirm, afford support,
     allege in support, allow, answer, approve, argue for, assert,
     attest, authenticate, authorize, back, back up, be exposed to,
     be subjected to, bear, bear out, bear up, bear up under, bear with,
     beef up, befriend, bide, board, bolster, bolster up, brace,
     brace up, brave, bread, brook, buoy, buoy up, buttress, care for,
     carry, carry on, case harden, certify, champion, cherish,
     circumstantiate, coddle, confirm, conserve, contend for, continue,
     continue to be, copyright, corroborate, cosset, counter, cradle,
     crutch, cultivate, cushion, defeat time, defend, defy time, digest,
     dine, document, dry-nurse, dwell, encounter, endorse, endure,
     espouse, exist, experience, extend, favor, feed, feel, finance,
     float, float high, fodder, fondle, forage, fortify, foster, fund,
     gird, give support, go, go on, go through, grass, gratify, graze,
     guard, hang in, hang in there, hang tough, harden, have, hold,
     hold on, hold out, hold up, invigorate, keep, keep afloat,
     keep alive, keep going, keep intact, keep inviolate, keep on,
     keep safe, keep up, know, labor under, last, last long, last out,
     lavish care on, lend support, lengthen, live, live on,
     live through, lug, lump, lump it, mainstay, maintain, make a plea,
     meat, meet, meet up with, meet with, mess, mother, nerve,
     not destroy, not endanger, not expend, not use up, not waste,
     nourish, nurse, nurture, nutrify, pack, pamper, pass through,
     pasture, patent, pay, perdure, perennate, perpetuate, persevere,
     persist, persist in, pillow, plead for, preserve, prevail, probate,
     prolong, prop, prop up, protect, protract, prove, provision,
     put up with, ratify, rebut, recognize, refresh, refute, regale,
     register, reinforce, reinvigorate, remain, reply, respond,
     restrengthen, retain, ride high, riposte, run, run on,
     run up against, sanction, satisfy, save, say in defense, see,
     shore, shore up, shoulder, spare, speak for, speak up for, spend,
     spoon-feed, stand, stand by, stand for, stand under, stand up for,
     stay, stay on, steel, stick, stick up for, stiffen, stomach,
     strengthen, subsidize, subsist, substantiate, subvention,
     subventionize, suckle, suffer, support, survive, take up with,
     tarry, taste, temper, tide over, tolerate, tote, toughen,
     underbrace, undergird, undergo, underlie, underpin, underset,
     upbear, uphold, upkeep, uplift, upraise, urge reasons for,
     validate, verify, waft, warrant, wear, wear well, weather,
     wet-nurse, wine and dine, withstand