01 v. t. To keep from falling; to bear; to uphold; to support; as, a foundation sustains the superstructure; a beast sustains a load; a rope sustain…
imp. & p. p.
Sustained; p. pr. & vb. n.
Sustaining
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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.“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.“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.“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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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.