Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Sustain
Sus-tain′
,Verb.
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 weightEvery 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 army4.
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 disappointment6.
To suffer; to bear; to undergo.
Shall Turnus, then, such endless toil
sustain
? Dryden.
You shall
sustain
more new disgraces. Shakespeare
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 suit8.
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.
Sus-tain′
,Noun.
One who, or that which, upholds or sustains; a sustainer.
[Obs.]
I waked again, for my
sustain
was the Lord. Milton.
Webster 1828 Edition
Sustain
SUSTA'IN
,Verb.
T.
1.
To bear; to uphold; to support; as, a foundation sustains the superstructure; pillars sustain an edifice; a beast sustains a load.2.
To hold; to keep from falling; as, a rope sustains a weight.3.
To support; to keep from sinking in despondence. The hope of a better life sustains the afflicted amidst all their sorrows.4.
To maintain; to keep alive; to support; to subsist; as provisions to sustain a family or an army.5.
To support in any condition by aid; to assist or relieve. His sons, who seek the tyrant to sustain.
6.
To bear; to endure without failing or yielding. The mind stands collected and sustains the shock. Shall Turnus then such endless toil sustain?
7.
To suffer; to bear; to undergo. You shall sustain more new disgraces.
8.
To maintain; to support; not to dismiss or abate. Notwithstanding the plea in bar or in abatement, the court sustained the action or suit.9.
To maintain as a sufficient ground. The testimony or the evidence is not sufficient to sustain the action, the accusation, the charges, or the impeachment. 10. In music, to continue, as the sound of notes through their whole length.
SUSTA'IN
,Noun.
Definition 2024
sustain
sustain
English
Noun
sustain (plural sustains)
Verb
sustain (third-person singular simple present sustains, present participle sustaining, simple past and past participle sustained)
- (transitive) To maintain, or keep in existence.
- (transitive) To provide for or nourish.
- provisions to sustain an army
- (transitive) To encourage (something).
- (transitive) To experience or suffer (an injury, etc.).
- Dryden
- Shall Turnus, then, such endless toil sustain?
- Shakespeare
- You shall sustain more new disgraces.
- Dryden
- (transitive) To confirm, prove, or corroborate.
- to sustain a charge, an accusation, or a proposition
- To keep from falling; to bear; to uphold; to support.
- A foundation sustains the superstructure; an animal sustains a load; a rope sustains a weight.
- To aid, comfort, or relieve; to vindicate.
- (Can we find and add a quotation of Shakespeare to this entry?)
- Dryden
- his sons, who seek the tyrant to sustain
Derived terms
Related terms
Translations
to maintain something
|
to provide for or nourish something