Sup*port" (?), v. t. [imp. & p.
p. Supported; p. pr. & vb. n.
Supporting.] [F. supporter, L. supportare to
carry on, to convey, in LL., to support, sustain; sub under +
portare to carry. See Port demeanor.] 1.
To bear by being under; to keep from falling; to uphold; to
sustain, in a literal or physical sense; to prop up; to bear the
weight of; as, a pillar supports a structure; an abutment
supports an arch; the trunk of a tree supports the
branches.
2. To endure without being overcome,
exhausted, or changed in character; to sustain; as, to support
pain, distress, or misfortunes.
This fierce demeanor and his insolence
The patience of a god could not support.
Dryden.
3. To keep from failing or sinking; to solace
under affictive circumstances; to assist; to encourage; to defend; as,
to support the courage or spirits.
4. To assume and carry successfully, as the
part of an actor; to represent or act; to sustain; as, to
support the character of King Lear.
5. To furnish with the means of sustenance or
livelihood; to maintain; to provide for; as, to support a
family; to support the ministers of the gospel.
6. To carry on; to enable to continue; to
maintain; as, to support a war or a contest; to support
an argument or a debate.
7. To verify; to make good; to substantiate;
to establish; to sustain; as, the testimony is not sufficient to
support the charges; the evidence will not support the
statements or allegations.
To urge such arguments, as though they were sufficient
to support and demonstrate a whole scheme of moral
philosophy.
J. Edwards.
8. To vindicate; to maintain; to defend
successfully; as, to be able to support one's own
cause.
9. To uphold by aid or countenance; to aid; to
help; to back up; as, to support a friend or a party; to
support the present administration.
Wherefore, bold pleasant,
Darest thou support a published traitor?
Shak.
10. A attend as an honorary assistant; as, a
chairman supported by a vice chairman; O'Connell left the
prison, supported by his two sons.
Support arms (Mil.), a command in the
manual of arms in responce to which the piece is held vertically at
the shoulder, with the hammer resting on the left forearm, which is
passed horizontally across the body in front; also, the position
assumed in response to this command.
Syn. -- To maintain; endure; verify; substantiate;
countenance; patronize; help; back; second; succor; relieve; uphold;
encourage; favor; nurture; nourish; cherish; shield; defend; protect;
stay; assist; forward.
Sup*port" (?), n. [F.]
1. The act, state, or operation of supporting,
upholding, or sustaining.
2. That which upholds, sustains, or keeps from
falling, as a prop, a pillar, or a foundation of any kind.
3. That which maintains or preserves from
being overcome, falling, yielding, sinking, giving way, or the like;
subsistence; maintenance; assistance; reënforcement; as, he gave
his family a good support, the support of national
credit; the assaulting column had the support of a
battery.
Points of support (Arch.), the
horizontal area of the solids of a building, walls, piers, and the
like, as compared with the open or vacant spaces. --
Right of support (Law), an easement or
servitude by which the owner of a house has a right to rest his timber
on the walls of his neighbor's house. Kent.
Syn. -- Stay; prop; maintenance; subsistence; assistance;
favor; countenance; encouragement; patronage; aid; help; succor;
nutriment; sustenance; food.
Sup*port" (?), v. t. [imp. & p.
p. Supported; p. pr. & vb. n.
Supporting.] [F. supporter, L. supportare to
carry on, to convey, in LL., to support, sustain; sub under +
portare to carry. See Port demeanor.] 1.
To bear by being under; to keep from falling; to uphold; to
sustain, in a literal or physical sense; to prop up; to bear the
weight of; as, a pillar supports a structure; an abutment
supports an arch; the trunk of a tree supports the
branches.
2. To endure without being overcome,
exhausted, or changed in character; to sustain; as, to support
pain, distress, or misfortunes.
This fierce demeanor and his insolence
The patience of a god could not support.
Dryden.
3. To keep from failing or sinking; to solace
under affictive circumstances; to assist; to encourage; to defend; as,
to support the courage or spirits.
4. To assume and carry successfully, as the
part of an actor; to represent or act; to sustain; as, to
support the character of King Lear.
5. To furnish with the means of sustenance or
livelihood; to maintain; to provide for; as, to support a
family; to support the ministers of the gospel.
6. To carry on; to enable to continue; to
maintain; as, to support a war or a contest; to support
an argument or a debate.
7. To verify; to make good; to substantiate;
to establish; to sustain; as, the testimony is not sufficient to
support the charges; the evidence will not support the
statements or allegations.
To urge such arguments, as though they were sufficient
to support and demonstrate a whole scheme of moral
philosophy.
J. Edwards.
8. To vindicate; to maintain; to defend
successfully; as, to be able to support one's own
cause.
9. To uphold by aid or countenance; to aid; to
help; to back up; as, to support a friend or a party; to
support the present administration.
Wherefore, bold pleasant,
Darest thou support a published traitor?
Shak.
10. A attend as an honorary assistant; as, a
chairman supported by a vice chairman; O'Connell left the
prison, supported by his two sons.
Support arms (Mil.), a command in the
manual of arms in responce to which the piece is held vertically at
the shoulder, with the hammer resting on the left forearm, which is
passed horizontally across the body in front; also, the position
assumed in response to this command.
Syn. -- To maintain; endure; verify; substantiate;
countenance; patronize; help; back; second; succor; relieve; uphold;
encourage; favor; nurture; nourish; cherish; shield; defend; protect;
stay; assist; forward.
Sup*port" (?), n. [F.]
1. The act, state, or operation of supporting,
upholding, or sustaining.
2. That which upholds, sustains, or keeps from
falling, as a prop, a pillar, or a foundation of any kind.
3. That which maintains or preserves from
being overcome, falling, yielding, sinking, giving way, or the like;
subsistence; maintenance; assistance; reënforcement; as, he gave
his family a good support, the support of national
credit; the assaulting column had the support of a
battery.
Points of support (Arch.), the
horizontal area of the solids of a building, walls, piers, and the
like, as compared with the open or vacant spaces. --
Right of support (Law), an easement or
servitude by which the owner of a house has a right to rest his timber
on the walls of his neighbor's house. Kent.
Syn. -- Stay; prop; maintenance; subsistence; assistance;
favor; countenance; encouragement; patronage; aid; help; succor;
nutriment; sustenance; food.
