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sustain
sus·tain / səˈstān/ • v. [tr.] 1. strengthen or support physically or mentally: this thought had sustained him throughout the years | [as adj.] (sustaining) a sustaining breakfast of bacon and eggs. ∎ cause to continue or be prolonged for an extended period or without interruption: he cannot sustain a normal conversation | [as adj.] (sustained) several years of sustained economic growth. ∎ (of a performer) represent (a part or character) convincingly: he sustained the role with burly resilience. ∎ bear (the weight of an object) without breaking or falling: he sagged against her so that she could barely sustain his weight | fig. his health will no longer enable him to sustain the heavy burdens of office. 2. undergo or suffer (something unpleasant, esp. an injury): he died after sustaining severe head injuries. 3. uphold, affirm, or confirm the justice or validity of: the allegations of discrimination were sustained. • n. Mus. an effect or facility on a keyboard or electronic instrument whereby a note can be sustained after the key is released. DERIVATIVES: sus·tain·ed·ly / -nidlē/ adv. sus·tain·er n. sus·tain·ment n. ORIGIN: Middle English: from Old French soustenir, from Latin sustinere, from sub- ‘from below’ + tenere ‘hold.’ |
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Cite this article
"sustain." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 1 Jun. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "sustain." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. (June 1, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-sustain.html "sustain." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Retrieved June 01, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-sustain.html |
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sustain
sustain †support, uphold the course of, keep in being XIII; endure without failing; bear the weight of XIV. ME. sos-, susteine — AN. sustein-, OF. so(u)stein-, tonic stem of so(u)stenir (mod. soutenir) — L. sustinēre, f. SUB- + tenēre hold, keep.
So sustenance means of subsistence XIII; act of sustaining XIV. — AN. sustenaunce, OF. so(u)stenance (mod. soutenance). sustentation XIV. — (O)F. or L. |
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Cite this article
T. F. HOAD. "sustain." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 1 Jun. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. T. F. HOAD. "sustain." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (June 1, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-sustain.html T. F. HOAD. "sustain." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Retrieved June 01, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-sustain.html |
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Sustain
SUSTAINTo carry on; to maintain. To affirm, uphold or approve, as when an appellate court sustains the decision of a lower court. To grant, as when a judge sustains an objection to testimony or evidence, he or she agrees with the objection and gives it effect. |
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Cite this article
"Sustain." West's Encyclopedia of American Law. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. 1 Jun. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "Sustain." West's Encyclopedia of American Law. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. (June 1, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-3437704277.html "Sustain." West's Encyclopedia of American Law. 2005. Retrieved June 01, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-3437704277.html |
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sustain
sustain
•abstain, appertain, arcane, arraign, ascertain, attain, Bahrain, bane, blain, brain, Braine, Cain, Caine, campaign, cane, chain, champagne, champaign, Champlain, Charmaine, chicane, chow mein, cocaine, Coleraine, Coltrane, complain, constrain, contain, crane, Dane, deign, demesne, demi-mondaine, detain, disdain, domain, domaine, drain, Duane, Dwane, Elaine, entertain, entrain, explain, fain, fane, feign, gain, Germaine, germane, grain, humane, Hussein, inane, Jain, Jane, Jermaine, Kane, La Fontaine, lain, lane, legerdemain, Lorraine, main, Maine, maintain, mane, mise en scène, Montaigne, moraine, mundane, obtain, ordain, pain, Paine, pane, pertain, plain, plane, Port-of-Spain, profane, rain, Raine, refrain, reign, rein, retain, romaine, sane, Seine, Shane, Sinn Fein, skein, slain, Spain, Spillane, sprain, stain, strain, sustain, swain, terrain, thane, train, twain, Ujjain, Ukraine, underlain, urbane, vain, vane, vein, Verlaine, vicereine, wain, wane, Wayne
•watch chain • mondaine • Haldane
•ultramundane • Cellophane
•novocaine • sugar cane • marocain
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Cite this article
"sustain." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. 1 Jun. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "sustain." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. (June 1, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-sustain.html "sustain." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Retrieved June 01, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-sustain.html |
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