sustentation

[ suhs-tuhn-tey-shuhn ]

noun

1. maintenance in being or activity; the sustaining of life through vital processes.
2. provision with means or funds for upkeep.
3. means of sustaining life; sustenance.

sustentation

/ ˌsʌstɛnˈteɪʃən /

noun

1. a less common word for sustenance

Other Words From

• susten·tation·al adjective
• sus·ten·ta·tive [suhs, -t, uh, n-tey-tiv, s, uh, -, sten, -t, uh, -tiv], adjective
• self-susten·tation noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of sustentation¹

1350–1400; Middle English < Latin sustentātiōn- (stem of sustentātiō ) an upholding, equivalent to sustentāt ( us ) (past participle of sustentāre, frequentative of sustinēre to sustain ) + -iōn- -ion

Word History and Origins

Origin of sustentation¹

C14: from Latin sustentātio, from sustentāre, frequentative of sustinēre to sustain

Example Sentences

And any who were absent without lawful cause shall forfeit one pound of wax to the sustentation of the said great candle.

From Project Gutenberg

The revenues confiscated were those used for “the finding, maintaining or sustentation of any priest or of any anniversary, or obit, lamp, light or other such things.”

From Project Gutenberg

Perhaps a little sustentation of life to the country will be obtained by a wretched peace.

From Project Gutenberg

And so all things appertaining to the sustentation of man, in triple and more exceeded their accustomed prices.

From Project Gutenberg

The problem is,—To find an Ultimate Ground, a Final Cause, which shall be adequate to account for the existence and sustentation of this Universe.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• care
• conservancy
• conservation
• safeguarding
• safety
• security
• storage