[f. SUPPORT v. + -ING1.]
1. † Assistance, succor (obs.); backing.
1421. Cov. Leet Bk., 36. To graunt hem a reward … in supportyng of hur honestye.
1436. Libel Eng. Policy, in Pol. Poems (Rolls), II. 163. To Fflaundres passe forth bye, They schulde not be suffrede … Ffor supportynge of oure cruelle enmyes.
1530. Palsgr., 278/2. Supportyng, assistence, support.
1565. Allen, Defence Purg. (1886), 10. For which plain supporting of undoubted wickedness S. Jerome calleth them often Christian epicures, bolsterers of sin.
1869. Freeman, Norm. Conq., III. App. E. 623. The proposing and supporting of opposing candidates.
2. Maintenance (of a person, an institution).
c. 1413. York Memorandum Bk. (Surtees), I. 63. The forfetes … shalbe employed … to the craft to the supporting of their pageant and othere chargez.
c. 1470. Harding, Chron., CLXXXIX. iii. To the pore supportyng.
1585. T. Washington, trans. Nicholay’s Voy., III. vi. 79. All other thinges necessary for the supporting of his house & estate.
† 3. The action of making good a defect; repair.
c. 1449. Pecock, Repr., III. x. 338. The endewing ȝouun to the brigge of Londoun into the supporting of his contynuel appeiring [= impairing].
4. The action of holding or propping up.
1646. Sir T. Browne, Pseud. Ep., IV. vii. 196. The lifting or supporting of persons inebriated.
1709. T. Robinson, Nat. Hist. Westmoreld., 31. The Roof of the Colliery will not stand without supporting.
1726. Leoni, Alberti’s Archit., I. 35/2. Very improper and unfaithful in supporting of great Weights.
1827. Faraday, Chem. Manip., ii. (1842), 42. The tubes … will often require supporting.
† 5. Taking away, removal. Obs. rare.
1608. Willet, Hexapla Exod., x. 121. In those daies I will cause the sunne to go downe at noone, and I will darken the earth in the cleare day … The supporting of the light of the sunne, the priuative cause, and the bringing of darknesse vpon the aire, the positiue cause.
