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 Word Forms

• sustentational adjective
• sustentative adjective
• self-sustentation 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.

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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.”

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

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

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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.

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Related Words

• care 
• conservancy 
• control 
• maintenance 
• management 
• protection 
• supervision