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sustenance definition

sus·te·nance (sustə nəns)

noun

  1. a sustaining or being sustained
  2. one's means of livelihood; maintenance; support
  3. that which sustains life; nourishment; food

Etymology: ME < OFr soustenance < LL sustinentia, patience, endurance < L sustinere: see sustain

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

sustenance Synonyms

sustenance

n.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

sustenance Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • draw: The image Jesus uses is of himself being a vine and of his followers being branches which draw sustenance and nourishment from the vine.

Preposition: at

  • center: Yet more sustenance at the visitor center here eventually did the trick and the few miles back to Morvich went quite well.

Adjective modifier

  • spiritual: For many people it is also a source of spiritual sustenance.

Modifies a noun

  • economy: What goes unperceived is the destruction in nature and in people's sustenance economy that this growth creates.

Noun used with modifier

  • need: Visitors to the area need sustenance, just as Chaucer's pilgrims did as they set off for Canterbury from the Tabard Inn.

Preposition: of

  • holiday: The cozy ambiance and yummy sustenance of a ski chalet holiday is the trendy option at present with numerous skiers.

Preposition: from

  • heaven: Is there a Creator, other than Allah, to give you sustenance from heaven or earth?

Preposition: for

  • person: It provided a home and sustenance for sixteen poor persons, one of whom was to act as warden and read prayers daily.
sustenance usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

sustenance quotes

These Mothers, instead of being able to work for their honest livelihood, are forced to beg Sustenance for their helpless Infants; who, as they grow up either turnThieves for want of Work; or leave their dear native country, to fight for the Pretender in Spain; or sell themselves to the Barbadoes.

-Swift,Jonathan

sustenance quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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"sustenance." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 4 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/sustenance>

APA Style

sustenance. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 4th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/sustenance

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