a. [f. L. sustentāt-: see SUSTENTATE and -IVE.]
1. Having the quality of sustaining.
1640. Jackson, Creed, XI. vi. § 4. Unless our Being be supported and strengthned by his power sustentative.
1652. Urquhart, Jewel, 278. Dialogismes, displaying their Interrogatory part with communicatively-Pysmatick and Sustentative flourishes.
2. Phys. Pertaining to sustentation.
1877. Huxley, Anat. Inv. Anim., Introd. 24. Each cell … must needs retain its sustentative functions so long as it grows.
1880. J. Cook, Boston Monday Lect., 203. Sustentative, generative and correlative functions in the lower forms of life are exerted indifferently.
