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sustain

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Sustain is defined as to support something or to endure a trial or hardship.

(verb)

An example of sustain is for a foundation to support the house.
An example of sustain is to survive days without food or water.

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See sustain in Webster's New World College Dictionary

transitive verb

to keep in existence; keep up; maintain or prolong: to sustain a mood
to provide for the support of; specif., to provide sustenance or nourishment for
to support from or as from below; carry the weight or burden of
to strengthen the spirits, courage, etc. of; comfort; buoy up; encourage
to bear up against; endure; withstand
to undergo or suffer (an injury, loss, etc.)
to uphold the validity or justice of: to sustain a verdict
to confirm; corroborate

Origin: ME susteinen < OFr sustenir < L sustinere < sus- (see sub-), under + tenere, to hold (see thin)

Related Forms:

sustainer noun
sustainment noun

See sustain in American Heritage Dictionary 4

transitive verb sus·tained, sus·tain·ing, sus·tains

To keep in existence; maintain.
To supply with necessities or nourishment; provide for.
To support from below; keep from falling or sinking; prop.
To support the spirits, vitality, or resolution of; encourage.
To bear up under; withstand: can't sustain the blistering heat.
To experience or suffer: sustained a fatal injury.
To affirm the validity of: The judge has sustained the prosecutor's objection.
To prove or corroborate; confirm.
To keep up (a joke or assumed role, for example) competently.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English sustenen

Origin: , from Old French sustenir

Origin: , from Latin sustinēre

Origin: : sub-, from below; see sub-

Origin: + tenēre, to hold; see ten- in Indo-European roots

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Related Forms:

sus·tainˌa·bilˈi·ty noun

sus·tainˈa·ble adjective

sus·tainˈer noun

sus·tainˈment noun

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