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sustainmore about sustain

sustain

 

  3  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  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. 
 
  Every  pillar  the  temple  to  sustain.  --Chaucer. 
 
  2.  Hence  to  keep  from  sinking,  as  in  despondence,  or  the 
  like  to  support. 
 
  No  comfortable  expectations  of  another  life  to 
  sustain  him  under  the  evils  in  this  world. 
  --Tillotson. 
 
  3.  To  maintain;  to  keep  alive;  to  support;  to  subsist;  to 
  nourish;  as  provisions  to  sustain  an  army. 
 
  4.  To  aid,  comfort,  or  relieve;  to  vindicate.  --Shak. 
 
  His  sons,  who  seek  the  tyrant  to  sustain.  --Dryden. 
 
  5.  To  endure  without  failing  or  yielding;  to  bear  up  under 
  as  to  sustain  defeat  and  disappointment. 
 
  6.  To  suffer;  to  bear;  to  undergo. 
 
  Shall  Turnus,  then,  such  endless  toil  sustain? 
  --Dryden. 
 
  You  shall  sustain  more  new  disgraces.  --Shak. 
 
  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. 
 
  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. 
 
  Syn:  To  support;  uphold;  subsist;  assist;  relieve;  suffer; 
  undergo. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Sustain  \Sus*tain"\,  n. 
  One  who  or  that  which  upholds  or  sustains;  a  sustainer. 
  [Obs.] 
 
  I  waked  again  for  my  sustain  was  the  Lord.  --Milton. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  sustain 
  v  1:  lengthen  or  extend  in  duration  or  space  [syn:  {prolong},  {keep 
  up}] 
  2:  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"  [syn:  {nourish},  {nurture}] 
  4:  supply  with  sustenance  [syn:  {keep},  {maintain}] 
  5:  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},  {support},  {hold 
  up}] 
  6:  admit  as  valid;  "The  court  sustained  the  motion" 
  7:  strengthen  or  make  more  firm  as  by  corroboration;  "his  story 
  confirmed  my  doubts"  [syn:  {confirm},  {corroborate},  {substantiate}, 
  {support},  {affirm}]  [ant:  {negate}]




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