SUPPORT, v.t. [L. supporto; sub and porto, to carry.]

1. The act or operation of upholding or sustaining.
2. That which upholds, sustains or keeps from falling, as prop, a pillar, a foundation of any kind.
3. That which maintains life; as, food is the support of life, of the body, of strength. Oxygen or vital air has bee supposed to be the support of respiration and of heat in the blood.
4. Maintenance; subsistence; as, an income sufficient for the support of a family; or revenue for the support of army and navy.
5. Maintenance; an upholding; continuance in any state, or preservation from falling, sinking or failing; as, taxes necessary for the support of public credit; a revenue for the support of government.
6. In general, the maintenance or sustaining of any this without suffering it to fail, decline or languish; as, the support of health, spirits, strength or courage; the support of reputation, credit, &c.
7. That which upholds or relieves; aid; help; succor; assistance.

1. To bear; to sustain; to uphold; as, a prop or pillar supports a structure; an abutment supports an arch; the stem of a tree supports the branches. Every edifice must have a foundation to support it; a rope or cord supports a weight.
2. To endure without being overcome; as, to support pain, distress, or misfortunes. This fierce demeanor and his insolence, / The patience of a God could not support. – Dryden.
3. To bear; to endure; as, to support fatigues or hardships; to support violent exertions. The eye will not support the light of the sun's disk.
4. To sustain; to keep from fainting or sinking; as, to support the courage or spirits.
5. To sustain; to act or represent well; as, to support the character of King Lear; to support the part assigned.
6. To bear; to supply funds for or the means of continuing; as, to support the annual expenses of government.
7. To sustain; to carry on; as, to support a war or a contest; to support an argument or debate.
8. To maintain with provisions and the necessary means of living; as, to support a family; to support a son in college to support the ministers of the Gospel.
9. To maintain; to sustain; to keep from failing; as, support life; to support the strength by nourishment.
10. To sustain without change or dissolution; as, clay supports an intense heat.
11. To bear; to keep from sinking; as, water supports ships and other bodies; supports a balloon.
12. To bear without being exhausted; to be able to pay; as, to support taxes or contributions.
13. To sustain; to maintain; as, to support good character.
14. To maintain; to verify; to make good; to substantiate. The testimony is not sufficient to support the charges; the evidence will not support the statements or allegations; the impeachment is well supported by evidence.
15. To uphold by aid or countenance; as, to support a friend or a party.
16. To vindicate; to maintain; to defend successfully; to be able to support one's own cause.

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. The act, state, or operation of supporting, upholding, or sustaining.
3. 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.

4. That which upholds, sustains, or keeps from falling, as a prop, a pillar, or a foundation of any kind.
5. To keep from failing or sinking; to solace under affictive circumstances; to assist; to encourage; to defend; as, to support the courage or spirits.
6. 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.

7. 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.
8. 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.
9. To carry on; to enable to continue; to maintain; as, to support a war or a contest; to support an argument or a debate.
10. 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.

11. To vindicate; to maintain; to defend successfully; as, to be able to support one's own cause.
12. 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.

13. 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.