A Topical Dictionary: Search for sustain

GNU Project's publication of CIDE, the Collaborative International Dictionary of English 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.
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Every pillar the temple to sustain. --Chaucer.
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2. Hence, to keep from sinking, as in despondence, or the
like; to support.
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No comfortable expectations of another life to
sustain him under the evils in this world.
--Tillotson.
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3. To maintain; to keep alive; to support; to subsist; to
nourish; as, provisions to sustain an army.
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4. To aid, comfort, or relieve; to vindicate. --Shak.
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His sons, who seek the tyrant to sustain. --Dryden.
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5. To endure without failing or yielding; to bear up under;
as, to sustain defeat and disappointment.
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6. To suffer; to bear; to undergo.
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Shall Turnus, then, such endless toil sustain?
--Dryden.
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You shall sustain more new disgraces. --Shak.
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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.
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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.
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Syn: To support; uphold; subsist; assist; relieve; suffer;
undergo.
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GNU Project's publication of CIDE, the Collaborative International Dictionary of English Sustain \Sus*tain"\, n.
One who, or that which, upholds or sustains; a sustainer.
[Obs.]
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I waked again, for my sustain was the Lord. --Milton.
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WordNet sustain
v 1: lengthen or extend in duration or space; "We sustained the
diplomatic negociations as long as possible"; "prolong
the treatment of the patient"; "keep up the good work"
[syn: prolong, keep up]
2: undergo (as 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"; "This kind of food is not nourishing for young
children" [syn: nourish, nurture]
4: supply with necessities and support; "She alone sustained
her family"; "The money will sustain our good cause";
"There's little to earn and many to keep" [syn: keep, maintain]
5: be the physical support of; carry the weight of; "The beam
holds up the roof"; "He supported me with one hand while I
balanced on the beam"; "What's holding that mirror?" [syn:
hold, support, hold up]
6: admit as valid; "The court sustained the motion"
7: establish or strengthen as with new evidence or facts; "his
story confirmed my doubts"; "The evidence supports the
defendant" [syn: confirm, corroborate, substantiate,
support, affirm] [ant: negate]

Moby Dictionary
abide , abide with , admit , advocate , affirm , afford support ,
allege in support , allow , answer , approve , argue for , assert ,
attest , authenticate , authorize , back , back up , be exposed to ,
be subjected to , bear , bear out , bear up , bear up under , bear with ,
beef up , befriend , bide , board , bolster , bolster up , brace ,
brace up , brave , bread , brook , buoy , buoy up , buttress , care for ,
carry , carry on , case harden , certify , champion , cherish ,
circumstantiate , coddle , confirm , conserve , contend for , continue ,
continue to be , copyright , corroborate , cosset , counter , cradle ,
crutch , cultivate , cushion , defeat time , defend , defy time , digest ,
dine , document , dry-nurse , dwell , encounter , endorse , endure ,
espouse , exist , experience , extend , favor , feed , feel , finance ,
float , float high , fodder , fondle , forage , fortify , foster , fund ,
gird , give support , go , go on , go through , grass , gratify , graze ,
guard , hang in , hang in there , hang tough , harden , have , hold ,
hold on , hold out , hold up , invigorate , keep , keep afloat ,
keep alive , keep going , keep intact , keep inviolate , keep on ,
keep safe , keep up , know , labor under , last , last long , last out ,
lavish care on , lend support , lengthen , live , live on ,
live through , lug , lump , lump it , mainstay , maintain , make a plea ,
meat , meet , meet up with , meet with , mess , mother , nerve ,
not destroy , not endanger , not expend , not use up , not waste ,
nourish , nurse , nurture , nutrify , pack , pamper , pass through ,
pasture , patent , pay , perdure , perennate , perpetuate , persevere ,
persist , persist in , pillow , plead for , preserve , prevail , probate ,
prolong , prop , prop up , protect , protract , prove , provision ,
put up with , ratify , rebut , recognize , refresh , refute , regale ,
register , reinforce , reinvigorate , remain , reply , respond ,
restrengthen , retain , ride high , riposte , run , run on ,
run up against , sanction , satisfy , save , say in defense , see ,
shore , shore up , shoulder , spare , speak for , speak up for , spend ,
spoon-feed , stand , stand by , stand for , stand under , stand up for ,
stay , stay on , steel , stick , stick up for , stiffen , stomach ,
strengthen , subsidize , subsist , substantiate , subvention ,
subventionize , suckle , suffer , support , survive , take up with ,
tarry , taste , temper , tide over , tolerate , tote , toughen ,
underbrace , undergird , undergo , underlie , underpin , underset ,
upbear , uphold , upkeep , uplift , upraise , urge reasons for ,
validate , verify , waft , warrant , wear , wear well , weather ,
wet-nurse , wine and dine , withstand