support English · revision 2043

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1384 (Wycliffe Bible)|origins=la portāre}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /səˈpɔːt/, US /səˈpɔːrt/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|supporten]], [[bor|fro|supporter|t=to bear, endure]], and directly [[bor|la|supportāre|t=to convey, carry, bring up]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) formed [[af|la|sub-|portāre|t1=from below, up|t2=to carry]].^(AHD 2000)^(COED 2004) In Late Latin the verb also meant “to bear, endure”, the sense in which it first entered English.^(MWU 2024)^(NODE 1998) The root is [[ine-pro|*per-|t=to lead, pass over]], as in [[port]] “to carry” and [[import]].^(Etymonline)^(AHD 2000)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ To put up with, tolerate, about 1384 in the Wycliffe Bible.^(Barnhart 1988)^(NODE 1998)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The physical sense “to hold up, prop up, bear the weight of” followed in the late 14th century,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) with “to sustain with food and the necessities of life” recorded before 1393.^(Barnhart 1988) “To provide money for” is from the early 15th century,^(Etymonline) “to back a course of action” by the 1630s, and “to second a motion or proposal” by 1736.^(Etymonline) Troops have been said to support one another in battle since 1848.^(Etymonline) In the theatre the verb meant “to act (a part)” in 1709 and “to accompany a leading performer” by 1889,^(Etymonline) and “to be a fan of (a sports team)” is from 1952.^(Etymonline) The noun, from the verb, first meant “help, backing” (late 14th century); its physical sense “a prop or base” is from the 1560s,^(Etymonline) and “services that keep something working” (''technical support'') is from 1953.^(Etymonline)^(SOED 2002) Elizabethan writers tried several fuller nouns, such as ''supportance'', used by Shakespeare and Nashe, and Milton's ''supportment''.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1384 – to tolerate, put up with (Wycliffe Bible).^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * before 1393 – to supply with the necessities of life.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * before 1396 – to hold up, prop up.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * late 14th century – noun, assistance, backing.^(Etymonline)

+ * early 15th century – to supply funds for.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1560s – noun, a physical prop or support.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1593 – ''supportive''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1709 – in the theatre, to act a part.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1736 – to second a motion or proposition.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1848 – of troops, to reinforce in battle.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1889 – to accompany a leading performer.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1952 – to be a fan of a sports team.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1953 – noun, technical support services.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To bear the [[weight]] of, especially from below; hold up.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To provide (a person or family) with money or the necessities of life.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To give help, comfort or encouragement to.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To back (a cause, policy or candidate); speak in favour of (a motion).^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To supply evidence for; [[corroborate]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To endure, put up with.^(Collins 2023)^(SOED 2002)

+ # To be a fan of (a sports team).^(Etymonline)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # The act of supporting, or the state of being supported.^(AHD)

+ # A person or thing that supports, such as a prop or [[brace]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # The means of living; maintenance.^(AHD)

+ # Services that keep a product or system working: ''technical support''.^(SOED 2002)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[supportability]]

+ * [[supportable]]

+ * [[supportive]]

+ * [[supportiveness]]

+ * [[supportingly]]

+ * [[undersupport]]

+ * [[nonsupport]]

+ * [[life-support]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[port]]

+ * [[portable]]

+ * [[transport]]

+ * [[report]]

+ * [[supporter]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Support is the most general of a group of verbs meaning “to give aid or encouragement”, beside [[uphold]], [[back]], [[advocate]] and [[champion]].^(AHD) RHWU distinguishes it from [[maintain]] (to keep intact), [[sustain]] (a more formal word, suggesting full and adequate support) and uphold (to back another's statement or rights).^(RHWU)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}