sustain

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

Every pillar the temple to sustain. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Hence, to keep from sinking, as in despondence, or the like; to support. [ 1913 Webster ]

No comfortable expectations of another life to sustain him under the evils in this world. Tillotson. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To maintain; to keep alive; to support; to subsist; to nourish; as, provisions to sustain an army. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. To aid, comfort, or relieve; to vindicate. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

His sons, who seek the tyrant to sustain. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. To endure without failing or yielding; to bear up under; as, to sustain defeat and disappointment. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. To suffer; to bear; to undergo. [ 1913 Webster ]

Shall Turnus, then, such endless toil sustain? Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

You shall sustain more new disgraces. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- To support; uphold; subsist; assist; relieve; suffer; undergo. [ 1913 Webster ]