SUSTAIN

sustain. Sustain, v.i. to bear, endure, uphold, support

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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. 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. 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. 3. To maintain; to keep alive; to support; to subsist; to nourish; as, provisions to sustain an army.
4. 4. To aid, comfort, or relieve; to vindicate. Shak.
His sons, who seek the tyrant to sustain. Dryden. 5. 5. To endure without failing or yielding; to bear up under; as, to sustain defeat and disappointment.
6. 6. To suffer; to bear; to undergo.
Shall Turnus, then, such endless toil sustain? Dryden. You shall sustain more new disgraces. Shak. 7. 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. 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.