n.
Pronunciation: - ' t ā -sh ə n
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin sustentation-, sustentatio act of holding up, from sustentare to hold up, frequentative of sustin ē re to sustain
Date: 14th century
1 : the act of sustaining : the state of being sustained: as a : MAINTENANCE , UPKEEP b : PRESERVATION , CONSERVATION c : maintenance of life, growth, or morale d : provision with sustenance
2 : something that sustains : SUPPORT
– sus · ten · ta · tive \ ' s ə s-t ə n- ˌ t ā -tiv, s ə - ' sten-t ə -tiv \ adjective