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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 (gcide)

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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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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