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

sustain \sustain"\, 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.
      1913 webster

            every pillar the temple to sustain.   --chaucer.
      1913 webster

   2. hence, to keep from sinking, as in despondence, or the
      like; to support.
      1913 webster

            no comfortable expectations of another life to
            sustain him under the evils in this world.
                                                  --tillotson.
      1913 webster

   3. to maintain; to keep alive; to support; to subsist; to
      nourish; as, provisions to sustain an army.
      1913 webster

   4. to aid, comfort, or relieve; to vindicate. --shak.
      1913 webster

            his sons, who seek the tyrant to sustain. --dryden.
      1913 webster

   5. to endure without failing or yielding; to bear up under;
      as, to sustain defeat and disappointment.
      1913 webster

   6. to suffer; to bear; to undergo.
      1913 webster

            shall turnus, then, such endless toil sustain?
                                                  --dryden.
      1913 webster

            you shall sustain more new disgraces. --shak.
      1913 webster

   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.
      1913 webster

   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.
      1913 webster

   syn: to support; uphold; subsist; assist; relieve; suffer;
        undergo.
        1913 webster
see also:
sustained sustaining sub- tenable sustenance 

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

sustain \sustain"\, n.
   one who, or that which, upholds or sustains; a sustainer.
   obs.
   1913 webster

         i waked again, for my sustain was the lord. --milton.
   1913 webster

[3] : WordNet (r) 2.0

sustain
     v 1: lengthen or extend in duration or space; "we sustained the
          diplomatic negociations as long as possible"; "prolong
          the treatment of the patient"; "keep up the good work"
          syn: prolong, keep up
     2: undergo as of injuries and illnesses; "she suffered a
        fracture in the accident"; "he had an insulin shock after
        eating three candy bars"; "she got a bruise on her leg";
        "he got his arm broken in the scuffle" syn: suffer, have,
         get
     3: provide with nourishment; "we sustained ourselves on bread
        and water"; "this kind of food is not nourishing for young
        children" syn: nourish, nurture
     4: supply with necessities and support; "she alone sustained
        her family"; "the money will sustain our good cause";
        "there's little to earn and many to keep" syn: keep, maintain
     5: be the physical support of; carry the weight of; "the beam
        holds up the roof"; "he supported me with one hand while i
        balanced on the beam"; "what's holding that mirror?" syn:
         hold, support, hold up
     6: admit as valid; "the court sustained the motion"
     7: establish or strengthen as with new evidence or facts; "his
        story confirmed my doubts"; "the evidence supports the
        defendant" syn: confirm, corroborate, substantiate,
         support, affirm ant: negate
see also:
prolong keep up suffer have get nourish 
nurture keep maintain hold support 
hold up confirm corroborate substantiate affirm 
negate 

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

257 moby thesaurus words for "sustain":
   abide, abide with, admit, advocate, affirm, afford support,
   allege in support, allow, answer, approve, argue for, assert,
   attest, authenticate, authorize, back, back up, be exposed to,
   be subjected to, bear, bear out, bear up, bear up under, bear with,
   beef up, befriend, bide, board, bolster, bolster up, brace,
   brace up, brave, bread, brook, buoy, buoy up, buttress, care for,
   carry, carry on, case harden, certify, champion, cherish,
   circumstantiate, coddle, confirm, conserve, contend for, continue,
   continue to be, copyright, corroborate, cosset, counter, cradle,
   crutch, cultivate, cushion, defeat time, defend, defy time, digest,
   dine, document, dry-nurse, dwell, encounter, endorse, endure,
   espouse, exist, experience, extend, favor, feed, feel, finance,
   float, float high, fodder, fondle, forage, fortify, foster, fund,
   gird, give support, go, go on, go through, grass, gratify, graze,
   guard, hang in, hang in there, hang tough, harden, have, hold,
   hold on, hold out, hold up, invigorate, keep, keep afloat,
   keep alive, keep going, keep intact, keep inviolate, keep on,
   keep safe, keep up, know, labor under, last, last long, last out,
   lavish care on, lend support, lengthen, live, live on,
   live through, lug, lump, lump it, mainstay, maintain, make a plea,
   meat, meet, meet up with, meet with, mess, mother, nerve,
   not destroy, not endanger, not expend, not use up, not waste,
   nourish, nurse, nurture, nutrify, pack, pamper, pass through,
   pasture, patent, pay, perdure, perennate, perpetuate, persevere,
   persist, persist in, pillow, plead for, preserve, prevail, probate,
   prolong, prop, prop up, protect, protract, prove, provision,
   put up with, ratify, rebut, recognize, refresh, refute, regale,
   register, reinforce, reinvigorate, remain, reply, respond,
   restrengthen, retain, ride high, riposte, run, run on,
   run up against, sanction, satisfy, save, say in defense, see,
   shore, shore up, shoulder, spare, speak for, speak up for, spend,
   spoon-feed, stand, stand by, stand for, stand under, stand up for,
   stay, stay on, steel, stick, stick up for, stiffen, stomach,
   strengthen, subsidize, subsist, substantiate, subvention,
   subventionize, suckle, suffer, support, survive, take up with,
   tarry, taste, temper, tide over, tolerate, tote, toughen,
   underbrace, undergird, undergo, underlie, underpin, underset,
   upbear, uphold, upkeep, uplift, upraise, urge reasons for,
   validate, verify, waft, warrant, wear, wear well, weather,
   wet-nurse, wine and dine, withstand

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