[1] : The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

support \support"\, v. t. imp.  p. p. supported; p. pr. 
   vb. n. supporting. f. supporter, l. supportare to carry
   on, to convey, in ll., to support, sustain; sub under +
   portare to carry. see port demeanor.
   1. to bear by being under; to keep from falling; to uphold;
      to sustain, in a literal or physical sense; to prop up; to
      bear the weight of; as, a pillar supports a structure; an
      abutment supports an arch; the trunk of a tree supports
      the branches.
      1913 webster

   2. to endure without being overcome, exhausted, or changed in
      character; to sustain; as, to support pain, distress, or
      misfortunes.
      1913 webster

            this fierce demeanor and his insolence
            the patience of a god could not support. --dryden.
      1913 webster

   3. to keep from failing or sinking; to solace under affictive
      circumstances; to assist; to encourage; to defend; as, to
      support the courage or spirits.
      1913 webster

   4. to assume and carry successfully, as the part of an actor;
      to represent or act; to sustain; as, to support the
      character of king lear.
      1913 webster

   5. to furnish with the means of sustenance or livelihood; to
      maintain; to provide for; as, to support a family; to
      support the ministers of the gospel.
      1913 webster

   6. to carry on; to enable to continue; to maintain; as, to
      support a war or a contest; to support an argument or a
      debate.
      1913 webster

   7. to verify; to make good; to substantiate; to establish; to
      sustain; as, the testimony is not sufficient to support
      the charges; the evidence will not support the statements
      or allegations.
      1913 webster

            to urge such arguments, as though they were
            sufficient to support and demonstrate a whole scheme
            of moral philosophy.                  --j. edwards.
      1913 webster

   8. to vindicate; to maintain; to defend successfully; as, to
      be able to support one's own cause.
      1913 webster

   9. to uphold by aid or countenance; to aid; to help; to back
      up; as, to support a friend or a party; to support the
      present administration.
      1913 webster

            wherefore, bold pleasant,
            darest thou support a published traitor? --shak.
      1913 webster

   10. a attend as an honorary assistant; as, a chairman
       supported by a vice chairman; o'connell left the prison,
       supported by his two sons.
       1913 webster

   support arms mil., a command in the manual of arms in
      responce to which the piece is held vertically at the
      shoulder, with the hammer resting on the left forearm,
      which is passed horizontally across the body in front;
      also, the position assumed in response to this command.
      1913 webster

   syn: to maintain; endure; verify; substantiate; countenance;
        patronize; help; back; second; succor; relieve; uphold;
        encourage; favor; nurture; nourish; cherish; shield;
        defend; protect; stay; assist; forward.
        1913 webster
see also:
supported supporting port support arms 

[2] : WordNet (r) 2.0

supporting
     adj 1: furnishing support and encouragement; "the anxious child
            needs supporting and accepting treatment from the
            teacher" syn: encouraging
     2: capable of bearing a structural load; "a supporting wall"
        syn: load-bearinga, supportinga
     n : the act of bearing the weight of or strengthening; "he
         leaned against the wall for support" syn: support
see also:
encouraging load-bearinga supportinga support 

[3] : Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0

35 moby thesaurus words for "supporting":
   advocating, approving, back of, backing, bearing, behind,
   bolstering, bracing, burdened, buttressing, carrying, confirmative,
   confirmatory, confirming, corroborating, corroborative,
   corroboratory, favorable, favoring, holding, in support of,
   maintaining, pro, propping, shoring, substantiating, supportive,
   suspensory, sustaining, sustentative, upholding, verificative,
   verifying, well-disposed, well-inclined

Supporting >> S Words
Supporting, definition of term: Supporting
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