- undergo (as of injuries and illnesses)
"She suffered a fracture in the accident"
"He had an insulin shock after eating three candy bars"
"She got a bruise on her leg"
"He got his arm broken in the scuffle"

- establish or strengthen as with new evidence or facts
"his story confirmed my doubts"
"The evidence supports the defendant"

- admit as valid
"The court sustained the motion"

- supply with necessities and support
"She alone sustained her family"
"The money will sustain our good cause"
"There''s little to earn and many to keep"

- provide with nourishment
"We sustained ourselves on bread and water"
"This kind of food is not nourishing for young children"

- be the physical support of

- carry the weight of
"The beam holds up the roof"
"He supported me with one hand while I balanced on the beam"
"What''s holding that mirror?"

- lengthen or extend in duration or space
"We sustained the diplomatic negociations as long as possible"
"prolong the treatment of the patient"
"keep up the good work"

1. To keep from falling; to bear; to uphold; to support; as, a foundation sustains the superstructure; a beast sustains a load; a rope sustains a weight.

"Every pillar the temple to sustain." -- Chaucer.

2. Hence, to keep from sinking, as in despondence, or the like; to support.

"No comfortable expectations of another life to sustain him under the evils in this world." -- Tillotson.

3. To maintain; to keep alive; to support; to subsist; to nourish; as, provisions to sustain an army.

4. To aid, comfort, or relieve; to vindicate. Shak.

"His sons, who seek the tyrant to sustain." -- Dryden.

5. To endure without failing or yielding; to bear up under; as, to sustain defeat and disappointment.

6. To suffer; to bear; to undergo.

"Shall Turnus, then, such endless toil sustain?" -- Dryden.

"You shall sustain more new disgraces." -- Shak.

7. To allow the prosecution of; to admit as valid; to sanction; to continue; not to dismiss or abate; as, the court sustained the action or suit.

8. To prove; to establish by evidence; to corroborate or confirm; to be conclusive of; as, to sustain a charge, an accusation, or a proposition.

Syn. -- To support; uphold; subsist; assist; relieve; suffer; undergo.

1. One who, or that which, upholds or sustains; a sustainer. [Obs.]

"I waked again, for my sustain was the Lord." -- Milton.