sustain English · revision 15107

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1290|origins=la teneō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /səˈsteɪn/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|sustenen]], [[bor|fro|sustenir|t=to hold up, endure]] (modern [[fr|soutenir]]),^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986)^(MWU 2024) from [[la|sustineō|t=to hold up, support, endure]], from [[m|la|sub-|t=up from below]] and [[m|la|teneō|t=to hold]] (see [[tenant]]),^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024)^(NODE 1998) from [[ine-pro|*ten-|t=to stretch]].^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ To support the cause of, to succour: about 1290 in the OED.^(OED 1989) To keep up or keep going: probably before 1300 in Barnhart;^(Barnhart 1988) to provide the necessities of life, late 13th century in Etymonline.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ To keep from falling, and to continue an action, are from the early 14th century.^(Etymonline) To endure pain or hardship without giving way is from about 1400.^(Etymonline) To uphold as valid, as in law, is from 1415.^(OED 1989) The noun, a means of sustenance, is from 1653, and in music the prolonging of a note, especially electronically, from 1972.^(OED 1989) Sustenance is probably from before 1300.^(Barnhart 1988) In Scots to sustain an excuse was to admit it as valid.^(Wright 1898)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1290 – to support, succour.^(OED 1989)

+ * probably before 1300 – sustenance.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * c. 1400 – to endure.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1415 – to uphold as valid.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1972 – sustain (music).^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To keep in existence; to maintain or prolong: ''to sustain a discussion''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To supply with necessities or nourishment.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To support from below; to keep from falling.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To keep up the spirits or strength of.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To withstand or endure: ''to sustain great provocation''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To suffer an injury or loss.^(Collins 2023)

+ # To uphold as valid.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # ''(music)'' The prolonging of a note, especially electronically.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[sustainability]]

+ * [[sustainable]]

+ * [[sustainer]]

+ * [[sustainment]]

+ * [[sustainedly]]

+ * [[sustainingly]]

+ * [[self-sustaining]]

+ * [[sustaining]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[sustenance]]

+ * [[tenant]]

+ * [[contain]]

+ * [[maintain]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}