[sup.port] vt [ME, fr. MF supporter, fr. LL supportare, fr. L, to carry, fr. sub- + portare to carry--more at fare] (14c) 1: to endure bravely or quietly: bear
2. a (1): to promote the interests or cause of (2): to uphold or defend as valid or right: advocate (3): to argue or vote for b (1): assist, help (2): to act with (a star actor) (3): to bid in bridge so as to show support for c: to provide with substantiation: corroborate "~ an alibi" 3 a: to pay the costs of: maintain b: to provide a basis for the existence or subsistence of "the island could probably ~ three --A. B. C. Whipple"
4. a: to hold up or serve as a foundation or prop for b: to maintain (a price) at a desired level by purchases or loans; also: to maintain the price of by purchases or loans
5: to keep from fainting, yielding, or losing courage: comfort
6: to keep (something) going -- sup.port.abil.i.ty n -- sup.port.able adj -- sup.port.ive adj -- sup.port.ive.ness n syn support, uphold, advocate, back, champion mean to favor actively one that meets opposition. support is least explicit about the nature of the assistance given "supports waterfront development". uphold implies extended support given to something attacked "upheld the legitimacy of the military action". advocate stresses urging or pleading "advocated prison reform". back suggests supporting by lending assistance to one failing or falling "refusing to back the call for sanctions". champion suggests publicly defending one unjustly attacked or too weak to advocate his or her own cause "championed the rights of children".
[2]support n (14c) 1: the act or process of supporting: the condition of being supported
2: one that supports
3: sufficient strength in a suit bid by one's partner in bridge to justify raising the suit