Sustain v.

Forms: 3 susteni, -eini, -einy, -eyni, -eyny, sosteine, souste(i)ne, 3–6 susteyne, 3–7 susteine, sustene, 4–5 sustyne, -teene, 4–6 sust(e)igne, susteyn, -tayn, (4 sostene, suste(e)n, -tyene, 5 sousteyne, 6 swstene), 4–7 sustaine, sustayne, 6–7 sustein, 4– sustain. [a. AF., OF. sustenir, so(u)stenir (mod.F. soutenir), pres. stem sus-, so(u)stein-, -eign, corresp. to Pr., Sp. sostener, It. sostenere, Pg. soster, ad. L. sustinēre, f. sus- SUB- 25 + tenēre to hold, keep.]

  † 1.  trans. To support the efforts, conduct or cause of; to succor, support, back up. Obs.

c. 1290.  Beket, 1507, in S. Eng. Leg., 149. And bote heo wolden him bi-leue and ne susteyni hun non-more.

13[?].  Cursor M., 22102 (Gött.). Bethaida and corozaim, Þir tua cites sal susten [Cott. foster] him [sc. þe anticrist].

a. 1450.  Knt. de la Tour, lxv. The wiff of the said Amon was not wise … to susteyne hym in his foly.

c. 1500.  Melusine, 111. That … ye … worship with all your power holy chirch, beyng her champyons, the same to susteyne & withstand ayenst alle her euvl wyllers.

1525.  Ld. Berners, Froiss., II. clxxxvii. 572. That was the duke of Bretaygne, who susteynd the traytour syr Peter of Craon.

a. 1578.  Lindesay (Pitscottie), Chron. Scot. (S.T.S.), I. 333. No man sould foster, succour or sustene no Douglasses withtin thair boundis.

1614.  Raleigh, Hist. World, V. i. § 6. 349. The Romans resolue to sustaine him, and put themselues in order.

1697.  Dryden, Æneid, VI. 1122. His Sons, who seek the Tyrant to sustain.

1711.  in 10th Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm., App. I. 143. They brought all the Grenadiers of their army, well sustain’d by a good body of other foot.

1757.  W. Wilkie, Epigoniad, I. 16. While Thebes secure our vain attempts withstands, By daily aids sustain’d from distant lands.

1802.  James, Milit. Dict., s.v., To sustain is to aid, succour, or support, any body of men in action, or defence.

  † b.  To uphold, back up, give support to (a person’s conduct, a cause, a course of action). Also, to stand by (one’s own action or conduct).

1297.  R. Glouc. (Rolls), 7354. Þo willam hurde þat he wolde susteini is tricherie.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 29275. Þam … þat sustens … Fals trout gain cristen state.

c. 1368.  Chaucer, Compl. Pite, 111. And netheles yit my troth I shall susteen vnto my deth. Ibid. (c. 1374), Troylus, II. 1686. I wole right fayn with al my myght ben oon. Haue god my trouþe here cause to susteyne.

1483.  Caxton, Gold. Leg., 154/2. He began to susteyn the feyth to whiche he had ben contrarye.

a. 1575.  Diurn. Occurr. (Bannatyne Cl.), 281. Johne Knox minister requyrit the lordis to sustene ane book. quhairinto wes contenit that thaj suld ordane … xij superintendentis.

1671.  Flavel, Fount. Life, vii. Wks. 1701, I. 44/1. His [sc. Christ’s] Death and Sufferings … must respect others, whose Persons and Cause he sustained in that suffering Capacity.

1752.  Young, Brothers, III. i. I’ll go; Sustain my part, and echo loud my wrongs.

  c.  Const. clause or (rarely) acc. and inf.: To support the contention or argument, maintain that…). Now rare.

c. 1366.  Chaucer, A. B. C., 22. As bi riht þei mihten wel susteene. Þat j were wurþi my dampnacioun.

c. 1380.  Wyclif, Sel. Wks., III. 175. Þes freres … seyde … þat it is an erroure to susteyne þat dymes ben pure almes.

a. 1450.  Knt. de la Tour, xii. Ther was moche speche whiche he shulde take, mani folke susteninge to take the elder [daughter].

1456.  Sir G. Haye, Law Arms (S.T.S.), 209. How it may be sustenyt that the king of Fraunce has na soverane.

c. 1550.  R. Bieston, Bayte Fortune, B ij.

1609.  Hume, Admonit., in Wodrow Soc. Misc. (1844), 570. On the other part, otheris of you … sustene, that, among pastoris, thair sould be inparitie.

1678.  G. Mackenzie, Crim. Laws Scot., I. xi. § 3 (1699), 59. The Justices would not sustain, minæ per se, to be a sufficient qualification of self-defence.

1899.  Westm. Gaz., 8 Sept., 3/1. What patriotic Englishman can for a moment sustain that [etc.]?

  2.  To uphold the validity or rightfulness of; to support as valid, sound, correct, true or just.

1415.  Hoccleve, To Sir J. Oldcastle, 183. Fro Cryst þat right first greew, & if þat we Nat shuln susteene it, we been ful vnwyse.

1425.  Rolls of Parlt., IV. 271/2. Such possession … ought not to be sustened ne affermed.

1689.  Sc. Acts Will. & Mary (1875), XII. 47/2. The objectione þerafter putt to the vote and sustained to reject the Commissione be 24 votes.

1754.  in Nairne Peerage Evid. (1874), 60. [They] sustained and hereby sustain the claim and fand and hereby find that she is a just and lawful creditor.

1756.  C. Lucas, Ess. Waters, II. 67. In the Thesis which I sustained for the degrees in physic at Leyden.

1793.  Ld. Eskgrove, in Lockhart, Scott (1837), I. vii. 215. Sustain the Sheriff’s judgment, and decern.

1807.  Ld. Eldon, in Vesey, Reports (1827), XIII. 601. The trustee, having … proved, that he had removed himself from the character of trustee, his purchase may be sustained.

1855.  Poultry Chron., III. 412. If an objection be made to any entry as being a false one, and such objection be sustained within ten days.

  3.  To keep (a person or community, the mind, spirit, etc.) from failing or giving way.

13[?].  Minor Poems fr. Vernon MS., xxxii. 984. Þat sacrament reconsileþ him ay, Susteyneþ him, þat he ne falle may.

c. 1386.  Chaucer, Man of Law’s T., 62. I prey to god in honour hire susteene.

a. 1400–50.  Wars Alex., 1749. All þe gracious godis & gudnes … Þat … sustaynes þe erth.

1535.  Coverdale, Ps. iii. 6. I layed me downe and slepte, but I rose vp agayne, for the Lorde susteyned me.

1662.  Rowley, Birth Merlin, I. ii. 10. That hope alone sustains me.

1742.  Young, Nt. Th., IV. 401. He tunes My voice (if tun’d); the nerve, that writes, sustains.

1837.  Lockhart, Scott, III. x. 334. [He] who, more perhaps than any other master of the pen, had contributed to sustain the spirit of England throughout the struggle.

1843.  Wordsw., Grace Darling, 49. Inwardly sustained by silent prayer.

  4.  To keep in being; to cause to continue in a certain state; to keep or maintain at the proper level or standard; to preserve the status of.

c. 1290.  St. Kath., 68, in S. Eng. Leg., 94. Þis Aumperour sende … is sonde Þat þe gretteste maistres of clergie to him comen … for to susteinen op heore lawe þoru strencþe of clergie.

c. 1290.  Beket, 1605, ibid., 152. He þat sosteinez vuele lawes.

1297.  R. Glouc. (Rolls), 6507. He … muche louede holi chirche & susteinede al so. Ibid., 7697. No time nas Þet pes bet isusteined þan bi his time was.

1340.  Ayenb., 57. Þo þet þe tauernes sustyeneþ byeþ uelaȝes of alle þe zennen þat byeþ y-do ine hare tauernes.

1372.  Langl., P. Pl., B. IX. 108. Trewe wedded libbing folk … mote worche & wynne & þe worlde susteyne.

c. 1386.  Chaucer, Man of Law’s T., 294. The honour of his regne to susteene.

c. 1430.  Lydg., Min. Poems (Percy Soc.), 210. Trewe juges and sergeauntis of the lawe,… Holde trouthe and sustene rightwisnesse.

1483.  Caxton, Cato, d j. He deyed for to holde and susteyne the lawe and trowthe.

1590.  Spenser, F. Q., II. ii. 40. That great Queene … That with her soueraigne powre,… All Faery lond does peaceably sustene.

1666.  Dryden, Ann. Mirab., xlvii. Two Chiefs … Each able to sustain a Nations fate. Ibid. (1697), Æneid, I. 400. Remus with Quirinus shall sustain The righteous Laws.

1700.  Prior, Carm. Sec., 10. Happy Pow’r sustain’d by wholesom Laws.

1836.  J. Gilbert, Chr. Atonem., vi. (1852), 154. The rule of good, no longer enforced by its proper penalties, requires to be sustained by some equivalent expedient.

1841.  Myers, Cath. Th., IV. § 45. 406. If it [sc. Protestantism] has destroyed much it has also created much, and is now sustaining much.

1875.  Manning, Mission Holy Ghost, viii. 211. We are creatures who have come forth from His omnipotence, and are sustained by His almighty power.

  5.  To keep going, keep up (an action or process, † occas. a material object); to keep up without intermission; (with mixture of sense 8 or 9), to carry on (a conflict, contest).

c. 1330.  Arth. & Merl. (Kölbing), 9926. Four geauntes,… Þat sustend þat bataile.

1405.  Lay Folks Mass Bk. (1879), 65. Any other anourment whare-wit godes seruys es sustend.

c. 1407.  Lydg., Reason & Sens., 771. Vertu sensityf … hir quarel doth sustene Ageyns hir ful Rigorously.

a. 1420.  ? Lydg., Assembly of Gods, 1093. Whyle these pety-capteynes susteynyd thus the feelde.

c. 1450.  Godstow Reg., 602. ij lampes to be susteyned with oyle.

1500–20.  Dunbar, Poems, xlvii. 22. To turne to trew luve his intent, And still the quarrell to sustene.

1544.  Betham, Precepts War, I. lxxvii. E ij. Men refreshed wyth hote meates, bene hable to susteyne battayle an whole daye.

1553.  Paynell, trans. Dares’ Phryg. Destr. Troy, F ij. Ajax Thelamonius valiantly sustained y^e thinge vntill the night departed y^e battel.

1697.  Dryden, Virg. Past., III. 86. Menalcas shall sustain his under Song.

1760–2.  Goldsm., Cit. W., xci. Their perseverance is beyond what any other nation is capable of sustaining. Ibid. (a. 1774), Hist. Greece, I. 292. At last, the Athenian fleet, after sustaining a long battle,… was put to flight.

1816.  Scott, Old Mort., xxxvi. He felt no sort of desire … to sustain a correspondence which must be perilous.

1817.  Jas. Mill, Brit. India, IV. v. II. 205. It was the severest conflict which the English had yet sustained with an Indian army.

1827.  Faraday, Chem. Manip., iv. (1842), 96. The fire is lighted by a piece of brown paper and a little small coal, and is sustained … with coke and small coal.

1848.  Dickens, Dombey, xxx. The conversation was almost entirely sustained by Mrs. Skewton.

1850.  Hawthorne, Scarlet L., iii. (1879), 71. By the Indian’s side, and evidently sustaining a companionship with him.

1875.  Jowett, Plato (ed. 2), III. 46. The arts by which he sustains the reader’s interest.

1883.  Grove, Dict. Mus., III. 638/1. Comical … effects might be got by sustaining such sounds as ‘z-z’ … ‘r-r’ … or ‘ü.’ Ibid., 639/1. By giving the pianoforte this power of sustaining sound, the special character of the instrument is transformed.

  † b.  To maintain the use, exercise or occupation of. Obs.

1601.  B. Jonson, Poetaster, IV. vi. If you thinke gods but fain’d, and vertue painted, Know, we sustaine an actuall residence.

1612.  Chapman, Rev. Bussy D’Ambois, III. iv. 5. Since I see you still sustain a jealous eye on me.

1623.  Shakspere’s Wks., Ep. Ded. When we valew the places your H. H. sustaine.

  † 6.  To support life in; to provide for the life or bodily needs of; to furnish with the necessaries of life; to keep. Obs.

c. 1290.  St. Edmund, 552, in S. Eng. Leg., 447. Swiþe faire under-fongue, And isusteyned in his anuy.

1297.  R. Glouc. (Rolls), 2354. He nadde noȝt inou is kniȝtes to soustene. Ibid., 7755. Hom þoȝte in engelond so muche folc neuere nas Þat it was wonder ware þoru isousteined it was.

1340–70.  Alex. & Dind., 797. Alle þe godus þat ȝe geten … Seruen for to sustaine ȝour vnsely wombe.

1377.  Langl., P. Pl., B. XV. 275. Þorw þe mylke of þat mylde best þe man was susteyned.

c. 1400.  Maundev. (Roxb.), xv. 68. Of concubines ilke man takes als many as he may sustene of his gudes. Ibid., xxxii. 145. Meet and drink wharwith þe feble body myght be susteynd.

1483.  Caxton, Cato, A iij b. Thou oughtest to loue thy fader and moder nexte after god, and to … susteyne them in theyr necessytees.

1653.  Hammond, On Matth. iv. 4. 21. Bread or ordinary means of susteining men.

1667.  Milton, P. L., V. 415. Whatever was created, needs To be sustaind and fed.

a. 1700.  Evelyn, Diary, 26 Oct. 1685. The daughter of a poore labouring man, who had sustain’d her parents … by her labour.

  † b.  Said of the means of support. Obs.

1538.  Starkey, England (1878), 75. Other cuntreys in lyke space or les, dothe susteyn much more pepul then dothe thys ourys.

a. 1578.  Lindesay (Pitscottie), Chron. Scot. (S.T.S.), I. 3. Ane hes that micht ane hundreith weill susteine.

1615.  G. Sandys, Trav., 7. Their territories though large and fruitfull, too narrow to sustaine so populous a State.

1697.  Dryden, Virg. Georg., II. 743. Enough remains … His Wife and tender Children to sustain.

  † c.  refl. To keep oneself; occas. to take food, feed. Obs.

a. 1300.  in E. E. P. (1862), 20. Sum þer beþ þat swinkiþ sore winne catel to hab more ham silf fair to susteni.

1380.  in Eng. Gilds (1870), 40. He may nought ne haue nouȝthe to susteyne him self.

a. 1550[?].  Freiris Berwik, 226, in Dunbar’s Poems (1893), 293. That na apperance of feist be heir sene, Bot sobirly our selffis dois sustene.

1640–1.  Kirkcudbr. War-Comm. Min. Bk. (1855), 157. Thair … families are reducit to extreme miserie … not haveing quhairupon to sustein thame.

1650.  W. D., trans. Comenius’ Gate Lat. Unl., § 385. A husbandman that … mainteineth (susteineth) himself with the crop (incom) of his yearly corn.

  † d.  To support (life, nature) with necessaries.

1402.  Pol. Poems (Rolls), II. 17. Neither they tillen ne sowen,… neither nothing that man should helpe, but onely themselves, their lives to susteine.

1483.  Caxton, Cato, h j b. Thou oughtest not to requyre … of god but that whyche is vtyle and prouffytable for to susteyn nature humayn.

1591.  Sylvester, Du Bartas, I. iii. 694. O sacred simples that our life sustain.

1697.  Dryden, Virg. Georg., IV. 82. They … labour Honey to sustain their Lives.

  † e.  To supply (a person’s need). Obs. rare.

1601.  Shaks., Twel. N., IV. ii. 135. Ile be with you againe: In a trice, like to the old vice, Your neede to sustaine.

  † 7.  To provide for the upkeep of (an institution, establishment, estate, etc.). Obs.

1338.  R. Brunne, Chron. (1810), 20. Þre þousand marke he gaf … To Petir & Paule of Rome, to susteyn þer light.

1431.  Rec. St. Mary at Hill (1905), 15. That the same Wardeyns & their Successours fynde & susteyn v tapers of wexe … to brenne vpon my candylstyk.

c. 1450.  Godstow Reg., 491. And they shold susteyne the seid mese, with ther owne costis, in al so good state or better than they resceived hit.

1544.  trans. Littleton’s Tenures, I. viii. 16. Yf a house be let, to holde at wyl, the lessee is nat holden to susteyne or repayre the house.

1592.  West, 1st Pt. Symbol., § 103 C. The sade J. shall well … sustaine & maintaine the houses & buildings which be … builded.

  8.  To endure without failing or giving way; to bear up against, withstand.

c. 1330.  Arth. & Merl. (Kölbing), 7152. & he bihinde to ben bi cas, To susten þe paiems ras.

1382.  Wyclif, 1 Cor. xiii. 7. Charite … hopith alle thingis, it susteyneth alle thingis.

a. 1400.  Chaucer, Merciles Beaute, 2. Your yen two wol slee me sodenly, I may the beaute of hem not sustene.

1474.  Caxton, Chesse, I. ii. (1883), 12. The euyll lyf … of the kynge is the lyf of a cruell beste and ought not longe to be susteyned.

1577.  Googe, trans. Heresbach’s Husb., 125. Asses … able to susteyn blowes, labour, hunger, and thyrst.

1667.  Milton, P. L., II. 209. This is now Our doom; which if we can sustain and bear, Our Supream Foe in time may much remit His anger.

1817.  Jas. Mill, Brit. India, IV. viii. II. 281. He sustained the attack, which, for the space of an hour was vigorously maintained.

1849.  Macaulay, Hist. Eng., iii. I. 290. Scarce one [of the cities] was now capable of sustaining a siege.

1875.  Jowett, Plato (ed. 2), V. 263. There is no soul of man … who will be able to sustain the temptation of arbitrary power.

1889.  A. R. Wallace, Darwinism (1890), 17. Each species [of plant] can sustain a certain amount of heat and cold.

  b.  † intr. (also with it) To bear up, hold out (obs.). Also occas. refl.

1382.  Wyclif, Ps. cxxix. [cxxx.] 3. If wickidnessis thou shalt al aboute kepe, Lord; Lord, who shal sustene? Ibid. (1382), Isaiah lxiv. 3. Whan thou shalt do merueiles, wee shuln not sustene.

1412–20.  Lydg., Chron. Troy, IV. 2029, heading, The Troyans and þe Grekes resumede the felde, in þe which the Grekis might not susteyne against þe swerde of Troylus.

1546.  Langley, trans. Pol. Verg. De Invent., I. iii. 5. Other that suppose this worlde had both an originall cause of being, and shall also sustein and ende by putrifaccion.

1573.  Satir. Poems Reform., xli. 139. In deid that ȝe suld not susteind [= sustain it] He thunderit threitnings to the air.

1598.  Chapman, Iliad, II. 287. Sustaine a little then my friendes, that we the trueth may trie: Of reuerend Chalchas prophesy.

1864.  Tennyson, Aylmer’s F., 544. Tho’ Averill wrote And bad him with good heart sustain himself.

  c.  trans. To bear, stand the force of (criticism, etc.).

1790.  Gibbon, Misc. Wks. (1814), III. 502. Their opinion will not sustain the rigour of critical enquiry.

1855.  Macaulay, Hist. Eng., xii. III. 142. The Cathedral … ill qualified to sustain a comparison with the awful temples of the middle ages.

  9.  To undergo, experience, have to submit to (evil, hardship or damage; now chiefly with injury, loss as obj., † formerly also sorrow, death); to have inflicted upon one, suffer the infliction of.

  In mod. journalistic use (orig. U.S.), to suffer the injury of (a broken limb, or the like).

c. 1400.  Destr. Troy, 7179. Why Sustayn ye þat sorow, þat Sewes for euer…? Why proffer ye not pes, or ye payne thole?

c. 1407.  Lydg., Reason & Sens., 3570. Iason … Fortunyd was for to sustene Al the pereils oon by oon.

1426.  in Surtees Misc. (1890), 10. After þe grete losses þat I have had and sustened.

1531.  Elyot, Gov., I. xxvi. The most noble emperour Octauius Augustus,… only for playing at dise and that but seldome, sustaineth a note of reproche.

1542–3.  Act 34 & 35. Hen. VIII., c. 3. The Offendoures … to susteyne suche further punisshement as shall seme expedient.

1555.  Eden, Decades (Arb.), 122. The princes are determyned noo longer to susteyne theyr oppressions.

1582.  N. Lichefield, trans. Castanheda’s Conq. E. Ind., I. ii. 6. In which time they susteined many and great tempests.

1583.  Stubbes, Anat. Abus., II. (1882), 62. The host of Pharao … who all sustained one kinde of death.

1601.  Shaks., Twel. N., I. v. 186. Good Beauties, let mee sustaine no scorne.

1628.  Digby, Voy. Medit. (Camden), 3. If either should chance to breake or spring mast or yarde or sustayne any leake or other damage.

1653.  R. Sanders, Physiogn., Moles, 13. She shall sustain thefts, and suffer by fugitive servants.

a. 1700.  Evelyn, Diary, 21 Sept. 1674. I went to see the greate losse that Lord Arlington had sustain’d by fire at Goring house.

1771.  Goldsm., Hist. Eng., IV. 163. He died of a gangrene, occasioned by the bruises which he had sustained.

1793.  Smeaton, Edystone L., § 322. The storms which the building had now sustained, without material damage.

1823.  Scott, Quentin D., xvii. He was relating the story of the bastinading which he had sustained. Ibid. (1825), Betrothed, xiii. Recollecting the loss she had so lately sustained on that luckless spot.

1833.  Ht. Martineau, Three Ages, ii. 46. His Majesty had sustained a signal defeat abroad.

1865.  Morley, Mod. Characteristics, 62. A provincial hostess, whose entertainment has gone off flatly, sustains about as much mortification as if her first-born had been attacked by the small-pox.

1880.  Troy (U.S.) Daily Times, 28 Aug. [He] fell from a pile of lumber yesterday afternoon and sustained a broken arm.

  † const. inf.  1559.  Aylmer, Harborowe, N iij b. Was it no wronge … that she susteyned … to be first a prysoner … and garded with a sorte of cutthrotes?

  † b.  With neutral obj. Obs.

1575.  Gascoigne, Glasse Govt., Wks. 1910, II. 9. Having susteyned like adventures.

1577.  Harrison, England, II. ii. (1877), I. 47. Shireburne also susteined the sub-diuision.

1663.  Rec. Meeting of Exercise, Alford (1897), 9. Mr. John Mair sustained his questionarie tryall, and his tryall in the Languages, and is approven.

1697.  Dryden, Virg. Georg., I. 73. That Crop … Which twice the Sun, and twice the Cold sustains. Ibid., III. 99. The Bull’s Insult at Four she [sc. the cow] may sustain.

  c.  To bear (a burden, charge); † to bear (expense).

1433.  Rolls of Parlt., IV. 425/1. Ye charges yat he most bere and susteigne.

1530.  in W. H. Turner, Select. Rec. Oxford (1880), 89. The Towne susteyneth nott one peny of the sayd charges.

1533.  Bellenden, Livy, II. iv. (S.T.S.), I. 142. He was sa fer rvn in age, þat he mycht nocht sustene þe charge of þe consulate.

1601.  R. Johnson, Kingd. & Commw. (1603), 196. Neither coulde the King of Spaine sustaine the burden of so many warres.

1651.  Hobbes, Leviath., II. xxiv. 129. That such portion [in the distribution of land] be made sufficient, to susteine the whole expence to the common Peace.

1738.  Wesley, Hymns, LXXIII. iv. The Burthen for me to sustain Too great, on Thee, my Lord, was laid.

1833.  Ht. Martineau, Manch. Strike, ix. 106. It has enabled us to sustain burdens which would have crushed any other people.

  † d.  To support (a part or character); to play the part of. Also occas. to bear (a title). Obs.

1560.  Daus, trans. Sleidane’s Comm., 107. Where as they susteyne the persones of intercessours.

1588.  Kyd, Househ. Philos., Wks. (1901), 252. [He] ought principally to haue care in choosing of his wife, with whom hee must sustaine the persoune of a Husbande.

1596.  Dalrymple, trans. Leslie’s Hist. Scot., I. 116. Thay susteine the persone of honest sitizenis.

1643.  Prynne, Sov. Power Parl., App. 198. Christ our Saviour, who although he were the King of Kings, yet because he then sustained a private person, he payed tribute willingly.

1700.  Wallis, in Collect. (O.H.S.), I. 325. From him that … sustains that title.

1731.  A. Hill (in Sotheran’s Catal., No. 12 [1899], 26). I am at a loss, how those characters will be sustain’d w^ch they were to have represented.

1782.  Cowper, Parrot, 35. Each character in ev’ry part Sustain’d with so much grace and art.

  † 10.  Const. inf., or acc. and inf., chiefly in negative, conditional or interrog. use: To reconcile oneself to doing, to bear to do, something; to tolerate or bear that something should be done.

14[?].  in Tundale’s Vis. (1843), 113. O who is alas that may sustene To be prowd, consider her mekenes.

1426.  Lydg., De Guil. Pilgr., 4432. I swepe, I make yt clene, For fylthe noon I may sustene Ther tabyde.

1540–1.  Elyot, Image Gov., xxvi. 58 b. She coulde not susteyne hyr sonnes wyfe to be called Augusta.

1567.  Gude & Godlie B. (S.T.S.), 110. We may not sustene To heir thame say, [etc.].

1700.  Dryden, Ceyx & Alcyone, 19. Can Ceyx then sustain to leave his Wife?

c. 1726.  Sewell, Rich. I., II. He who leads Armies in the Cause of Heaven … Yet can sustain to wrong a King—a Friend.

  11.  To hold up, bear the weight of; to keep from falling by support from below; often simply, to carry, bear. † Also with up. Now rare.

c. 1330.  Roland & V., 338. Mahoun … dede mani fendes þer in … For to susten þe ymage, & sett him on heiȝe stage.

1390.  Gower, Conf., III. 108. Whos condicion Is set to be the foundament To sustiene up the firmament.

1470–85.  Malory, Arthur, XVI. ii. 667. Gawayne … lepte vp behynde hym for to sustene hym.

1481.  Caxton, Myrr., I. xvi. 50. That one [of the four elements] susteyned that other in suche manere, as therthe holdeth hym in the myddle.

1590.  Spenser, F. Q., II. x. 43. Next whom Morindus did the crowne sustaine.

1592.  Kyd, Sp. Trag., II. i. 3. In time the sauuage Bull sustaines the yoake. Ibid. (1594), Cornelia, II. 339. What e’re the massie Earth hath fraight, Or on her nurse-like backe sustaines.

1606.  Shaks., Ant. & Cl., III. xi. 45. Well then, sustaine me: Oh.

1697.  Dryden, Virg. Georg., III. 256. To harrow Furrows, and sustain the Plough.

1756.  E. Moore, Trial Selim, 27. Her left hand clench’d, her cheek sustain’d.

1759.  Toplady, Poems (1860), 96. Each a Palm sustain’d In his victorious Hand.

1794.  Mrs. Radcliffe, Myst. Udolpho, xxvi. Here again she looked round for a seat to sustain her.

1831.  Scott, Cast. Dang., viii. He found the minstrel seated at a small table, sustaining before him a manuscript.

1832.  Brewster, Nat. Magic, x. 253. The difficulty … really consists in sustaining the anvil.

1850.  Mrs. Jameson, Leg. Monast. Ord. (1863), 394. Sustained in the arms of two sisters of her Order.

  fig.  1390.  Gower, Conf., III. 136. Pes sustiened up alofte With esy wordes and with softe Wher strengthe scholde lete it falle.

1620.  T. Granger, Div. Logike, 66. The Adiunct receiued of the Subiect by inherence is infixed, infused, ingrafted, sustained of the subiect.

  b.  To be the support of, as in a structure or building; to have resting upon it.

c. 1386.  Chaucer, Knt.’s T., 1135. For to make it strong Euery pyler the temple to sustene.

c. 1489.  Caxton, Sonnes of Aymon, xxiv. 505. A forke that susteyned vp their lodges, that was grete and stronge.

1611.  Coryat, Crudities, 325. Two exceeding great Lyons in red marble, that sustaine two goodly pillars.

1697.  Dryden, Æneid, X. 1189. A Bough his Brazen Helmet did sustain.

a. 1700.  Evelyn, Diary, 12 July 1654. The ample Hall and columne that spreads its capital to sustaine the roofe.

1717.  Prior, Alma, II. 277. The swelling Hoop sustains The rich Brocard.

1784.  Cowper, Task, IV. 544. Her head … Indebted to some smart wig-weaver’s hand For more than half the tresses it sustains.

1828.  Scott, F. M. Perth, xxiii. The bier was so placed, as to leave the view of the body it sustained open [etc.].

1856.  Stanley, Sinai & Pal., x. (1858), 365. The Galilean hills … contain or sustain green basins of table-land just below their topmost ridges.

  c.  To bear, support, withstand (a weight or pressure). Also in fig. context.

c. 1386.  Chaucer, Prioress’ T., 31. My konnyng is so wayk … That I ne may the weighte nat susteene.

1697.  Dryden, Virg. Georg., I. 164. Lest the Stem … Shou’d scarce sustain the Head’s unweildy weight.

1774.  Goldsm., Nat. Hist. (1776), VI. 91. Though they have but a small weight of body to sustain.

1781.  Cowper, Flatting Mill, 9. This process achiev’d, it is doom’d to sustain The thump after thump of a gold-beater’s mallet.

1800.  Vince, Hydrost., ii. (1806), 23. The same pressure must sustain the same weight.

1836.  J. Gilbert, Chr. Atonem., ix. (1852), 268. This external pressure has nothing substantial to sustain it from within.

1860.  Tyndall, Glac., II. xxx. 404. When the pressure applied becomes too great for the glass to sustain, it flies to pieces.

  † d.  To hold in position, hold erect, etc.; also, to be sufficient to bear the weight of. Obs.

1398.  Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., V. xxv. (Bodl. MS.). Þe nekke … bereþ and susteyneþ þe heed.

1481.  Caxton, Myrr., II. xvii. 104. The quyck syluer is of suche nature … that it susteyneth a stone vpon it.

1538.  Starkey, England (1878), 49. Bycause they [sc. the feet] by theyr labour susteyne and support the rest of the body.

1599.  Alex. Hume, Hymns, II. 81. The feit ar swift and members meit, for to susteine the rest.

1668.  Culpepper & Cole, Barthol. Anat., IV. vii. 165. If all eight [muscles] act, they hold the Back straight, and do as it were sustain a man.

  † e.  refl. and intr. To hold oneself upright; also, to be in or maintain a fixed position. Obs.

c. 1374.  Chaucer, Anel. & Arc., 177. She ne hath foot on which she may sustene.

c. 1450.  Merlin, 354. He myght no lenger sustene on his feet for the traueile.

1604.  Shaks., Oth., V. ii. 260. Behold, I haue a weapon: A better neuer did it selfe sustaine Vpon a Soldiers Thigh.

1728.  R. Morris, Ess. Anc. Archit., 35. The Solidity becomes of less Power to sustain in Proportion to its Height.

  † f.  Const. inf. To have sufficient strength to do, be equal to doing, something. Obs.

1430–40.  Lydg., Bochas, IX. i. (MS. Bodl. 263), 408/1. To stonde upriht he myhte nat susteene.

1481.  Caxton, Myrr., I. xv. 50. No bodyly man may not susteyne for to see hym [sc. an angel] in no manere.

  12.  To be adequate as a ground or basis for. (Cf. SUPPORT v. 3 c.)

1828–32.  Webster, s.v., The testimony or the evidence is not sufficient to sustain the action, the accusation, the charges, or the impeachment.

1866.  Seeley, Ecce Homo, v. (ed. 8), 40. We go beyond what the evidence is able to sustain.

1869.  J. Martineau, Ess., II. 361. This passage undoubtedly sustains Mr. Grote’s assertion.

  ¶ 13.  To wait for. (A literalism of translation.)

1382.  Wyclif, Ecclus. xxxvi. 18. Ȝif meede, Lord, to men sustenende thee. Ibid. (1382), Mark viii. 2. Now the thridde day thei susreynen [gloss or abyden] me.