(a) To support (sb. or sth.) physically, hold upright; bear the weight of (sb. or sth.); prevent (sb. or sth.) from falling; also fig. & in fig. context; anat. support (a part of the body), provide a structure for; ~ up; (b) to stand, support oneself; remain standing; -- also refl.; (c) to remain in saddle (on horseback); (d) to fasten (sth.), hold up; suspend (a sword) [quot. a1450]; hold (sth.) together; also, hold (sth.) in position [last quot.]; (e) surg. to support a broken limb; (f) of an altar: to hold (a burnt offering, etc.).

(a) To provide the necessities of life to (sb.); sustain the life of (sb.); feed (an animal); -- also refl.; also, furnish sustenance [quot. a1387]; ~ of, provide for (sb.) out of (sth.); (b) to provide sustenance to (the body, a bodily part, life, etc.), nourish; provide for (the body, nature, etc.); also, maintain the supply of (a bodily fluid, a humor, etc.); ppl. susteninge as adj.: life-engendering, sexually potent; (c) fig. to sustain (the heart, soul, etc.); sustain (sb.) spiritually; sustain the spirits of (sb.); also, refl. sustain oneself, be strong; (d) of a land, place, etc.: to provide sustenance for (people); of the air: nourish life on (the earth); of the sun's heat: sustain (the fruits of earth); (e) to sustain (an institution) financially or materially; maintain (a state of luxury, condition of living, class, rank).

(a) To support (sb., a realm, etc.), give assistance to; support the efforts or cause of (sth.); protect (sb.); also, encourage (sb.), egg on [quot. ?c1450]; preserve (sb. in honor) [quot. c1390 CT.ML.]; (b) of virtue: to support itself, be strong, prevail; (c) to uphold (a law, right, sovereignty, etc.), support, defend; preserve (justice, peace, etc.); also, uphold (a name), honor; ~ up; (d) to support (a cause, an act of wickedness, etc.), give assistance to; advocate (a false doctrine); support (an opinion with reasons); repeat (a lie); justify (a misdeed); ben half sustened, of an error: be supported in part.

To keep (a quarrel, conflict, etc.) going; carry on (a battle, war); maintain (a battle-position); continue (a course of action), pursue; perpetuate (wrongs, a state of happiness); also, carry on (the divine service), celebrate [quot. ?1403].

(a) To maintain (a building, structure, etc.), keep in good repair; ppl. susteninge, performing maintenance; (b) to keep (a fire) burning, keep (a candle) lit; also, provide (a lamp with oil to keep it burning); ~ light, supply money for a lamp or candles in a church, provide for the upkeep of a light; cerges sustened of charite, tapers provided or maintained by charitable bequest; (c) to maintain (one's likeness, the durability of mortal things) by procreation; (d) to preserve or maintain (the sensitivity of a nerve); maintain or assist the functioning of (a nerve); med. stabilize (a wounded place on the body); ?also, error for softenen v. [last quot.]; ~ and ripen matere, maintain and bring to a state of suppuration morbid matter; (e) to maintain the fruitful condition of (land), preserve; (f) to continue to use (a benevolent tongue), make use of; preserve (a language), keep alive; (g) to patronize (a tavern), frequent.

(a) To keep (sb., the world, a created thing, etc.) in existence, sustain; also, perpetuate (the world) [quot. c1400]; ppl. sustened as adj.: maintained in existence, real; (b) to manage (sth.), direct, rule; also, maintain (a formation of soldiers), keep control of [quot. a1460]; (c) to restrain oneself, hold back; also, refrain from speaking, hold in [1st quot.].

(a) To endure (hardship, a pathological condition or physical ailment, pain, etc.); undergo (poverty, an act of penance, a labor, etc.), experience; withstand (fire, a storm, God's might, etc.); tolerate (a medical preparation, a quantity of food); endure (a sound), bear; bear to know (secrets); also, incur (guilt) [1st quot.]; (b) to continue to live; endure; bear hardships; -- also refl.; ~ of, bear to know of (sth.); (c) suffer (a loss); incur (a financial burden, expenses, charges, etc.), bear (costs, expenditures), sustain.

(a) To withstand an attack, hold ground; continue fighting; hold out (against sb. or sth.); -- also refl.; (b) to withstand (an attack, the sword of a warrior, etc.).

(a) To bear an emotional burden, endure; (b) to bear the emotional burden of (an event, shame, etc.), endure; (c) with inf.: to bear (to do sth.).

To tolerate (a doctrine), abide, permit; tolerate (sb. or sth.), bear with, endure the presence of, tolerate the existence of.

With inf.: to be able (to do sth.).

(a) To wait; ~ in, await (God), trust in (God's word); (b) to wait patiently for (the Lord, sth.); trust in (God's counsel).

With that clause: maintain (that sth. is the case), assert, aver; also, with inf.: recommend (doing sth.), insist (on doing sth.).