5 definitions found
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
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.
2. To endure without being overcome, exhausted, or changed in
character; to sustain; as to support pain, distress, or
misfortunes.
This fierce demeanor and his insolence The patience
of a god could not support. --Dryden.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
To urge such arguments, as though they were
sufficient to support and demonstrate a whole scheme
of moral philosophy. --J. Edwards.
8. To vindicate; to maintain; to defend successfully; as to
be able to support one's own cause
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.
Wherefore, bold pleasant, Darest thou support a
published traitor? --Shak.
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.
{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.
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.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Support \Sup*port"\, n. [F.]
1. The act state, or operation of supporting, upholding, or
sustaining.
2. That which upholds, sustains, or keeps from falling, as a
prop, a pillar, or a foundation of any kind
3. That which maintains or preserves from being overcome,
falling, yielding, sinking, giving way or the like
subsistence; maintenance; assistance; re["e]nforcement;
as he gave his family a good support, the support of
national credit; the assaulting column had the support of
a battery.
{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.
Syn: Stay; prop; maintenance; subsistence; assistance; favor;
countenance; encouragement; patronage; aid; help;
succor; nutriment; sustenance; food.
From WordNet r 1.6 [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: something 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"; "they forded the
stream supporting their packs over their heads" [syn: {supporting}]
9: a subordinate musical part provides background for more
important parts [syn: {accompaniment}]
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: be supportive of "Will you support me during the meeting?"
[syn: {back up}]
2: support financially in an enterprise; "The scholarship saw
me through college" [syn: {see through}]
3: be behind; support or vote for "He plumped for the Labor
Party"; "I backed Kennedy in 1960" [syn: {back}, {endorse},
{plump for}, {plunk for}]
4: be the support of "The beam holds up the roof"; "He
supported me with one hand while I balanced on the beam";
"What's holding that mirror?"; also metaphorically: "Her
efforts support us morally" [syn: {hold}, {sustain}, {hold
up}]
5: strengthen or make more firm as by corroboration; "his story
confirmed my doubts" [syn: {confirm}, {corroborate}, {sustain},
{substantiate}, {affirm}] [ant: {negate}]
6: adopt as a belief; "I subscribe to your view on abortion"
[syn: {subscribe}, {stand}]
7: support with evidence or authority : make more certain or
confirm; "The stories and claims were born out by the
evidence" [syn: {corroborate}, {underpin}, {bear out}]
8: argue in defense of [syn: {defend}, {fend for}]
9: support; of morale, theories, etc [syn: {bolster}, {bolster
up}]
10: play a subordinate role to (another performer)
11: be a customer or client of "We patronize this store" [syn:
{patronize}, {patronage}]
From Jargon File (4.2.3, 23 NOV 2000) [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 (13 Mar 01) [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 tête-à-tête
or exchange of {electronic mail} with the software's designer.
[{Jargon File}]
(1995-02-15)
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