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Webster 1913 Edition

Maintenance

Main′te-nance

,
Noun.
[OF.
maintenance
. See
Maintain
.]
1.
The act of maintaining; sustenance; support; defense; vindication.
Whatsoever is granted to the church for God’s honor and the
maintenance
of his service, is granted to God.
South.
2.
That which maintains or supports; means of sustenance; supply of necessaries and conveniences.
Those of better fortune not making learning their
maintenance
.
Swift.
3.
(Crim. Law)
An officious or unlawful intermeddling in a cause depending between others, by assisting either party with money or means to carry it on. See
Champerty
.
Wharton.
Cap of maintenance
.
See under
Cap
.

Webster 1828 Edition

Maintenance

MA'INTENANCE

,
Noun.
Sustenance; sustentation; support by means of supplies of food, clothing and other conveniences; as, his labor contributed little to the maintenance of his family.
1.
Means of support; that which supplies conveniences.
Those of better fortune not making learning their maintenance.
2.
Support; protection; defense; vindication; as the maintenance of right or just claims.
3.
Continuance; security from failure or decline.
Whatever is granted to the church for God's honor and the maintenance of his service, is granted to God.
4.
In law, an officious intermeddling in a suit in which the person has no interest, by assisting either party with money or means to prosecute or defend it. This is a punishable offense. But to assist a poor kinsman from compassion, is not maintenance.

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