supportn.
/səˈpɔːt/, U.S. /səˈpɔrt/ I. The action or result of supporting.
1. † b. Used in formulae of supplication or submission, esp. under (also with) support of. Cf. supportation n. 1b. Obsolete.
a. The action or an act of helping a person or thing to hold firm or not to give way; provision of assistance or backing.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > easiness > aid, help, or assistance > support > [noun]
holtc1375
fastnessa1382
maintenance1384
supportc1391
suppowell1399
supportationc1405
subministrationa1425
conforturec1475
stay1532
back-stand1548
supportance1576
backing1598
voice1600
supportment1607
supporture1609
seconding1613
manutenency?1630
c1391 J. Gower Confessio Amantis (Huntington) vii. l. 3207* To do pite support and grace, The Philosophre..A tale of gret essample tolde.
c1460 (a1449) J. Lydgate Minor Poems (1934) ii. 780 Lat no man booste..Off tresour, richesse, nor of sapience, Off wordly support.
1490 W. Caxton tr. Boke yf Eneydos xxi. sig. F.ijv Neuer socours ne comforte by me nor of my supporte was gyuen to theym.
1533 J. Bellenden tr. Livy Hist. Rome (1901) I. ii. xiii. 179 Vetusius consul was send in þare supporte.
c1549 in C. Innes Registrum Episcopatus Aberdonensis (1845) II. 307 Vtheris gratitudis helpis supportis and guid dedis els done to ws.
a1600 R. Lindsay Hist. & Cron. Scotl. (1899) II. 163 They..send to Ingland for suport..; quhilk suport was grantit to thame.
a1651 D. Calderwood Hist. Kirk Scotl. (1843) II. 402 The Commendatare of Arbrothe..went..to seeke support against the regent.
1656 B. Harris tr. J. N. de Parival Hist. Iron Age i. i. xv. 28 I can hope for no support in the equity of my cause.
1736 A. Hill tr. Voltaire Alzira ii. 13 Your Arms, your Furtherance, your vast Support, New-furnish'd my Desires, and wing'd my Hope.
1777 E. Burke Corr. (1844) II. 195 When you find men that you ought to trust, you must give them support.
1789 European Mag. Feb. 153/2 Their honourable and independent support of him during his administration.
1802 Ld. Nelson 10 Nov. in Dispatches & Lett. (1845) V. 30 Your gallant support of me at the Battle of Copenhagen.
1849 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. II. vii. 191 That the great plan..might obtain the approbation and support of his father-in-law.
1874 J. R. Green Short Hist. Eng. People ix. §3. 622 Clarendon was still strong in the support of the House of Commons.
1913 D. H. Lawrence Let. 25 Mar. (1962) I. 195 I should be most grateful for your support just now against Freda. She's an awful badgerer.
1956 Life 14 May 178/2 While I believe that the Communists never liked me personally nor believed that any administration of mine would meet with their approval—no matter how much they may have gone on record in support of me—many Communists presumably backed my candidacy.
2004 M. Petty in Slightly Foxed Winter 15 He presides over the odds-and-sods department of a dim national newspaper..with the doubtful support of Bob, a man with troubles of his own.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > lack of subjection > permission > [noun] > indulgent permission
supportc1425
c1425 J. Lydgate Troyyes Bk. (Augustus A.iv) v. l. 173 Sirs..so I may haue grace, Vnder support of ȝoure hiȝe presence, Þat my tale may haue audience.
c1460 (a1449) J. Lydgate Minor Poems (1934) ii. 754 Vndir support of his [sc. Christ's] magnificence.
c1475 (a1449) J. Lydgate Minor Poems (1934) ii. 664 Vnder support of your pacyence.
?1495 J. Lydgate St. Petronilla (Pynson) l. 41 in Minor Poems (1911) i. 156 With humble support of youre audience, Peysed youre power and youre holynesse, What may this mene?
?1566 J. Phillip Commodye Pacient & Meeke Grissill l. 2069 We submit our selues, vnto your iudgmentes wee And thus we knit vp, with support of your grace. Desiringe your praiers with vs in this case.
1598 Floure & Leafe in T. Speght Wks. G. Chaucer f. 368v/2 I..put all that I had seen in writing Under support of them that lust it to rede.
c. Spiritual help; an instance of this. Also more generally: encouragement, emotional help, mental comfort.See also moral support n. at moral adj. Compounds 2, victims support n. at victim n. Additions.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > easiness > aid, help, or assistance > support > [noun] > mental or spiritual
supportationa1500
support?a1513
crutch1581
nutriment1597
sustentationa1617
a1513 W. Dunbar Tabill of Confessioun in Poems (1998) I. 268 To the ignorant nocht gaif I my teching,..Nor vnto saulis support of my peching.
1591 in R. Pitcairn Criminal Trials Scotl. (1833) I. ii. 241 Drawing thame fra the lening to the mercie of God, and to beleive in the support of the Dewill.
1642 S. Ashe Support for Sinking Heart 19 Heede here the ground of his support and consolation, not the Lord God, but the Lord his God.
1673 J. Flavell Fountain of Life xxxiii. 458 When one asked of holy Mr. Baines how the case stood with his soul, he answered; Supports I have, though suavities I want.
1702 J. Newman Serm. preached at Salters-Hall 14 They shall have his Presence, and all needful Support and Comfort in a dying Hour.
1753 in tr. Thomas of Jesus Sufferings our Lord Jesus Christ I. 4 It was there [sc. in prison] that F. Thomas of Jesus composed this book of the sufferings of Jesus Christ, for the support and comfort of his captive brethren, whom he could not help any other way.
1794 A. Radcliffe Myst. of Udolpho I. ii. 53 We must ask support from above.
1826 D. Sandford Diary 8 May in Remains (1830) I. 176 Visited—, who appears to be evidently drawing to her end. May the presence and support of God's Holy Spirit be with her!
1861 H. B. Stowe Pearl of Orr's Island iv. 26 I hope the Cap'n and Mrs. Pennel'll get some support at the prayer-meetin' this afternoon.
1891 F. W. Farrar Darkness & Dawn I. xviii. 156 She felt a sense of support in truths which..kindled her imagination and touched her heart.
1932 A. Huxley Brave New World (1998) xii. 179 His friend's support and sympathy were now his only comfort.
1963 E. F. Vogel Japan's New Middle Class iii. ix. 215 He derives stable emotional support from his wife which is not equaled by any of his shorter-term contacts with women outside the home.
2000 D. R. Forsdyke Tomorrow's Cures Today? Pref. p. ix Frustrated by your inability to help, now you, yourself, are in need of comfort and support.
d. (a) Corroboration or substantiation (of a statement, principle, etc.); supporting evidence; (b) the action of writing or speaking in favour (of a proposal, motion, etc.), advocacy. Often in in support of.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > testing > attestation, witness, evidence > [noun] > confirmation, corroboration
confirming1297
strengthc1400
affirmance1442
vidimus1513
corroborating1530
fortification1530
warranty1561
astipulation1618
support1629
corroboration1765
circumstantiation1841
1629 D. Featley Cygnea Cantio 26 It [sc. the Jesuit interpretation of Mark 13: 32] is forced, and serveth to give support to the doctrine of Aequivocation.
1653 W. Eyre Vindiciæ Justificationis xvii. 142 I cannot but wonder (and so I dare say doth the impartiall Reader) that Mr. W. should say the Text is contradictory to my purpose, and yet confesse, that it affords support unto my Argument.
1691 New Invent. Mill'd-lead 17 in T. Hale Acct. New Inventions What the Officers of the Navy have offered in the same Paper of suggestions Philosophical, in support of their present Sentence against Lead-sheathing.
1742 Hist. & Proc. House of Lords V. 2 The Arguments made use of in Support of this Amendment, were in Substance as follow [etc.]
1771 ‘Junius’ Stat Nominis Umbra (1772) II. xlvii. 174 I..feel a considerable pleasure in being able to communicate any thing..in support of his opinions.
1809 ‘J. Gifford’ Hist. Polit. Life W. Pitt I. v. 231 Mr. Fox was very earnest in his support of the motion, and in his expressions of surprize at the opposition which it experienced.
1857 J. Scott Common Bench Rep. New Ser. I. 658 Overend, Q.C. and Chandler, in support of the rule.
1875 B. Jowett in tr. Plato Dialogues (ed. 2) V. 16 Nearly all of [these words]..have the support of some poetical or other authority.
1906 Southwestern Reporter 96 802/2 It is true that there is authority in support of the contention that in certain cases the clerk is not liable for the acts of his deputy, but this court has never announced this principle.
1941 Life 27 Jan. 27/1 As support for the charge that I am an Apostle of Gloom, it is said that I have predicted the defeat of Great Britain.
1961 Economist 4 Nov. 435/1 Evans had misstated some of his evidence in support of his pet theories.
2008 Nature 10 Apr. 745/1 We find strong support for several new hypotheses.
e. The action of supporting other armed forces, esp. by a second line of troops; organized assistance in a military, naval, or air force operation. Often in in support. Cf. sense 6b.air, ground support: see the first element.
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > military operations > distribution of troops > [noun] > supporting
support1749
fire support1896
air support1917
1749 J. Lindsay in R. Rolt Mem. Life John Lindesay (1753) iii. i. 196 Maintaining their first disposition in support of the first and second line, destined to take the flank of the enemy.
1756 Monthly Rev. Feb. 114 There seemed nothing wanting to complete the victory, but to have advanced the English cavalry in support of the impenetrable column.
1779 Remembrancer 7 207 Here they might have been refreshed, and in a very short time redressed at least to act as a line of support.
1794 J. Charnock Biogr. Navalis I. 248 The frigates stationed immediately off the port not being able to get up with her, sir John manned the boats of the squadron and got under way with his larger ships in support of them.
1842 G. W. Behn Conc. Syst. Instr. iii. 144 If the shock break the enemy's line, the front squadron may pursue, pellmell; the rear squadron trot after as a line of support.
1892 G. Philips Text Bk. Fortif. Sandhurst (ed. 5) 115 The whole of these troops, whether firing, or either in support or in reserve.
1918 G. C. Musgrave Under Four Flags for France x. 267 These are bombed out and cleared as the second wave goes across and passes on to rebuild the first line, with its own bombers in support.
1944 Pop. Mech. June 84/2 The new cannon companies that are equipped with the howitzers operate in direct support of the other companies.
1960 P. A. Crowl Campaign in Marianas ii. vii. 132/1 Whether in deep support or close support, the planes assigned to assist the ground forces flew three types of missions—bombing, rocketing, and strafing.
2009 T. Tucker Atomic Amer. i. 10 The entire concept—a huge carrier, new giant bombers, hundreds of atomic bombs, a dozen or more ships in support—represented an unprecedented investment, especially in peacetime.
f. The provision or availability of services that enable something to fulfil its function or help to keep it operational. Often as the second element of a compound, as software support, etc.See also ground support n. and adj. at ground n. Compounds 1d(d), technical support n. at technical adj. and n. Compounds, user support n. at user n.1 Compounds 1a, etc.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > easiness > aid, help, or assistance > types of help > [noun] > professional assistance
servicesa1513
support1935
1935 Times 13 Apr. 20/1 This is no doubt very largely due to..improved methods of ground support.
1958 Pop. Mech. July 95/1 The main hangar area and attached maintenance support shops rose three stories.
1968 Materials Eval. Sept. 180/2 Programming and graphics support is essential if one hopes to raise the status of laboratory thermal plotters..to a significant useful tool.
1969 W. F. Sharpe Econ. Computers viii. 264 More subtle changes involve, for example, improved performance for given models or better software support.
1977 Fortune Jan. 104/2 Customers are unhappy with the software support and service they receive.
1986 A & B Computing Nov. 13/1 The software has often been of a poor quality and software support is often patchy at best, being very limited in quality and professionalism.
2005 R. Barrera Overpromise & Overdeliver i. ii. 27 A brand may also denote the product's relatively straightforward acquisition, financing, ease of use, aftersales support, warranty, and lasting value.
2. Bearing or defraying of a charge or expense. Cf. earlier supportation n. 3.
ΘΚΠ
society > trade and finance > payment > [noun] > bearing of expenses or charges
supportation1437
support1449
sustentation1449
defrayment1547
defraying1587
defray?1615
defrayal1820
1449–50 Rolls of Parl.: Henry VI (Electronic ed.) Parl. Nov. 1449 §40. m. 7 Lord Sudeley..for the defence of youre seid reame, and support of the charges necessarie of the same, left in youre tresourie in redy money..the somme of .lx. .m. li.
1547 in J. B. Paul Accts. Treasurer Scotl. (1911) IX. 11 To Davide Ker,..in support of his expensis.
1591 Exch. Rolls Scot. XXII. 102 Assignit to the comptar in support of the chairgis and burding of his office.
1656 W. Dugdale Antiq. Warwickshire 91/2 The Merchants and other rich men should be taxed with the meaner sort, according to their several abilities towards the support of that cost in building those walls.
a1684 J. Evelyn Diary anno 1666 (1955) III. 431 An assignment of 40000 pounds..for the support of the next yeares Charge.
1776 Parl. Reg. 1775–80 III. 310/2 Towards the support of the charges which his Highness will be obliged to be at, at present, there shall be advanced to his said Highness..four hundred thousand livres.
1819 Baptist Mag. Jan. 44/2 My means of contributing towards the support of the expenses necessarily attendant upon such an undertaking are so very limited.
1860 Rep. Supreme Court Wisconsin 9 445 The act provides for the compulsory payment of a proportion of the property of the corporations to the state, in support of the expense of the state.
1904 E. P. Cheyney European Background of Amer. Hist. v. 85 A common treasury existed for the support of expenses.
1993 P. M. Dennis in E. Endicott Land Conservation through Public/ Private Partnerships viii. 187 The board's project feasibility funds provide similar support of costs for single projects.
3.
a. The action of preventing failure, exhaustion, or perishing; provision of necessary resources, esp. the supplying of a living thing with what is necessary for subsistence; the maintenance of existence or vital functions.See also Child Support Agency n. at child n. Compounds 1b, life support n. and adj.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > possession > supply > [noun] > provision of means of support or livelihood
substancec1384
maintenance1389
sustenance1389
sustentation1389
sustaining1395
findingc1400
uphold1439
retainment1449
exhibition?a1475
entertainment?c1475
upholdingc1480
entertaininga1492
sustenation1496
support1561
alimentation1590
alimony1622
enablement1626
subsisting1698
keep1801
life support1852
palimony1977
the world > life > source or principle of life > [noun] > as dependent on sustenance > means of life > action of supplying
maintaininga1387
support1561
the world > action or operation > safety > protection or defence > preservation from injury or destruction > [noun] > preservation in being or maintenance > specifically of a person, institution, office, etc.
sustenancec1300
supportation1421
supporting1431
relief1463
support1561
supportance1593
the world > action or operation > safety > protection or defence > preservation from injury or destruction > [noun] > preservation in being or maintenance > specifically of a living thing
support1561
supportal1649
1561 in J. D. Marwick Extracts Rec. Burgh Edinb. (1875) III. 110 That xij d. of euery tvn of wyne that salhappin tobe ventit..be..gevin..to the support of pure misterfull falit brethirne.
1563 G. Hay Confut. Abbote of Crosraguels Masse f. 81 Almous wes geuin to the supporte of the nedy, by the freindes of the dead.
1615 H. Crooke Μικροκοσμογραϕια ii. xi. 81 The arteries because they are ordayned to conuay the spirites for the support of life are straight and euen without any bossed knottes at all.
1686 tr. J. Chardin Coronation Solyman 98 in Trav. Persia A very great scarcity..of all things necessary for humane support [Fr. de toutes les choses necessaires à la vie].
1760 S. Foote Minor i. 27 I will cast him out, as an alien to my blood, and trust for the support of my name and family to a remoter branch.
1774 O. Goldsmith Hist. Earth VI. 169 All fish..stand in need of air for their support.
1782 W. Cowper Conversation in Poems 251 While in health, the ground of her support Is madly to forget that life is short.
1801 M. Edgeworth Forester in Moral Tales I. 119 She had a large family, that depended upon her labour, and upon her character, for support.
1829 T. Castle Introd. Systematical & Physiol. Bot. 285 The wonderful provisions for the propagation and support of plants.
1856 J. A. Froude Hist. Eng. I. i. 66 To provide some other means for the support of the impotent poor.
1883 Chautauquan Dec. 157/1 Among the conditions necessary for the support of life in general are some which are unfavorable to individual life.
1915 R. Holmes My Police Court Friends v. 152 A youth..being found about the streets without visible means of support.
1967 Surface Mining & our Environment (U.S. Dept. Interior) 76/1 The pits, or mine floors, had been graded barely enough to provide soil for the support of vegetation on only about 10 percent of the sites examined.
2006 K. A. Pickering Welfare Reform in Persistent Rural Poverty i. 31 They have low total household incomes and no other sources of support when they suffer setbacks.
b. The action of contributing to the success of something. Also in Economics and Finance: the action of maintaining the market level of something.See also price support n. at price n. Compounds 2.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > easiness > aid, help, or assistance > support > [noun] > of the success or value of something
support1744
1744 in Earl of Peterborough et al. tr. Demosthenes Several Orations Argt. 119 He likewise touches upon the Affair of the Public Money, and advises them to transfer the Application of it from the Support of the Theatre to the Maintenance of the Army.
1809 Monthly Rev. Mar. 284 A great part of the fund appropriated to domestic support has been withdrawn by the hand of the tax gatherer.
1837 Champion 25 Dec. 1037 An address was read from the trades of Dublin..asserting that their only combination in support of prices was a legal and an open one.
1869 Fraser's Mag. Oct. 424 The dedication of the endowment fund to the support of science and learning.
1903 Westm. Gaz. 29 Aug. 7/1 With lack of support the market has sagged away, and closes some 27s. 6d. below last week's values.
1938 R. S. Kuykendall Hawaiian Kingdom 1778–1854 xvii. 361 The legislature of 1853 appropriated $1500 for the support of English schools for Hawaiians.
1963 M. Friedman & A. J. Schwartz Monetary Hist. United States, 1867–1960 (1993) vii. 305 The bankers' pool did not stem the tide of selling. By the second week after the crash the phase of organized support of the market was over.
2000 Gafta Newsletter Aug. 6/3 The proposal deals with Market Access, Export Competition, Domestic Support and Special and Differential Treatment.
4.
a. The action or fact of holding up, keeping from falling or giving way, or bearing the weight of something; the condition of being so supported. Cf. earlier supportation n. 6.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > relative position > support > [noun]
sustaining1395
sustenancea1398
sustentation?a1425
stinea1475
supportation1496
support1594
supporture1609
fulciment1640
undersustentation1650
1594 (a1555) D. Lindsay Hist. Squyer Meldrum l. 545 in Wks. (1931) I. 160 The Squyer lap richt haistelie From his Cursour, deliuerlie, And to Sir Talbart maid support, And humillie did him comfort.
1611 T. Coryate Coryates Crambe sig. A3v Let his Cage be your Highnesse studie, his pearch your Princely hand, by the support whereof, hee may learne to chirp and sing.
1665 S. Patrick Parable of Pilgrim i. 2 His Leggs beginning..to fail him, and to deny him so much as their support.
1671 J. Milton Samson Agonistes 1634 Those two massie Pillars That to the arched roof gave main support . View more context for this quotation
1754 Monthly Rev. Feb. 102 The bulks and proportions of objects are governed by fitness and propriety;..it is this which has..fixed the dimensions of pillars, arches, &c. for the support of great weight.
1796 Philos. Trans. (Royal Soc.) 86 47 The pressure of the fluid, by which the solid is supported, acts upward, in the direction of a vertical line (usually called the line of support) which passes through the centre of gravity of the part immersed.
1812 S. Edwards New Bot. Garden I. 94 Slender stems which require support.
1842 J. Gwilt Encycl. Archit. Gloss. 1018 Points Of Support, the points or surfaces on which a building rests.
1897 J. K. Peck Luther Peck & his Five Sons 234 Some remained kneeling, others sat up and leaned their heads against trees, and stumps for support.
1935 E. Dewey Behavior Devel. in Infants iv. 179 On the one hundred and twelfth day he sat on an adult's lap without support.
1997 T. Benson Timber-frame House (rev. ed.) ii. 34 Midspan plates on bent posts give support to rafters but also reduce the load and outward thrust on eave plates.
b. Law. Sufficient strength in land or structures to prevent damage to adjoining property, as the adjoining landowner's natural right or by way of an easement. Also: spec. (Scots Law and U.S. Law) the resting of the whole or part of a building or of a beam on the property of the servient tenement; often in servitude of support.
ΘΚΠ
society > law > legal obligation > [noun] > obligation on owner to allow use by others > specific
support1681
water drop1818
1681 J. Dalrymple Inst. Law Scotl. i. xvii. 341 The prime positive Servitude of City-tenements is, the Servitude of support, whereby the servient Tenement is lyable to bear any burden for the use of the dominant.
1720 A. Bruce Decisions Lords of Council & Session 1714–15 146 All with us goes under the Name of the Servitude of Support which may be either of a Wall, Joist, or Dormant.
1754 J. Erskine Princ. Law Scotl. I. ii. ix. 208 The owner of the servient tenement is not obliged, in a servitude of support, to repair it, unless [etc.].
1825 Civil Code Louisiana ii. iv. 194 The right of support is one by which a proprietor stipulates that his neighbour shall be bound to permit that his house or his timbers should rest on the wall of his neighbour.
1838 W. Bell Dict. Law Scotl. at Servitudes An urban servitude is in some way connected with houses: to this class belong support, oneris ferendi, tigni immittendi, stillicide.., light, prospect.
1839 C. J. Gale & T. D. Whatley Treat. Law Easements (1840) vi. 157 ‘It did not appear whether the two houses had been erected at the same time, and whether the freehold in both had originally belonged to the same person;’ Lord Tenterden seems to have inclined to the opinion, that, had such a union existed, an easement of support would have arisen upon their severance.
1863 Univ. of Pennsylvania Law Rev. 449 450 When two proprietors build houses each on his own land, but under the same common roof, and with a common support, each has a servitude of support against the other.
1891 Central Law Jrnl. 33 302/2 From a very early period, judicial consideration has been given to the right of support to soil in Its natural state, and to artificial structures erected thereon by the soil of adjacent or subjacent lands.
1906 J. W. Whitelaw in Rep. Select Comm. Land Values Taxation (Scotl.) Bill App. No. 35. 794 In other cases the site belongs solely to the owner of the ground flat, but is subject to a right or servitude of support in favour of the owners of the supervening flats.
1927 W. M. Gloag & R. C. Henderson Introd. Law Scotl. 434–5 Urban Servitudes.—These are Support, Stillicide, and Light or Prospect.
1993 S. Thorburn in S. Thorburn & G. S. Littlejohn Underpinning & Retention (ed. 2) i. 9 Often there was no servitude of support and the use of adjacent walls for the purposes of achieving structural stability was clandestine.
2005 A. Tonnin Washington Real Estate Law 75 A landowner has the right to the natural support of the land provided by surrounding land.
5. Computing. Compatibility of use (of a computer, operating system, etc.) with particular hardware or software.
ΘΚΠ
society > computing and information technology > hardware > computer > [noun] > support for particular computer
support1984
1984 Which Micro? Dec. 20/1 The BBC Micro..has..software and hardware support.
1991 Publish Feb. 2 (advt.) You'll get the full functionality of Lasergraphics' MacRascol software, including Chooser Level Driver support.
2004 PC Mag. 19 Oct. 40/4 You get the same networking and hardware support on the emergency disk that you get inside Windows.
II. A person or thing that supports someone or something.
6.
a. A person or thing that provides assistance, backing, encouragement, or comfort; a strengthener of a person's spirits or resolution. Also: a person or thing that maintains the state, or contributes towards the success, of something. Cf. slightly earlier supportal n. 1.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > easiness > aid, help, or assistance > support > [noun] > that which or one who supports
crutchc900
upholda1066
uptakinga1300
arma1382
postc1387
staff1390
sustainerc1390
undersetterc1400
potent?a1439
buttressa1450
supportalc1450
comfort1455
supporta1456
studa1500
poge1525
underpropper1532
shore1534
staya1542
prop1562
stoopa1572
underprop1579
sustentation1585
rest1590
underpinning1590
supportance1597
sustinent1603
lean1610
reliance1613
hingea1616
columna1620
spar1630
gable end1788
lifeboat1832
standback1915
a1456 tr. Secreta Secret. (Marmaduke, Ashm. 59) (1977) 221 (MED) Noble Emperour, studye to ordeine vniuersitees, studies, and scoles..and beo to hem þeire prerogatyff and support.
a1500 (?a1430) J. Lydgate tr. G. Deguileville Pilgrimage Life Man (Stowe) l. 16442 (MED) Thow shuldest syngulerly be my supporte and Reffuge.
a1522 G. Douglas in tr. Virgil Æneid (1959) x. Prol. l. 146 My makar, my redemar and support, Fra quham all grace and gudnes cumis at schort.
1556 W. Whittingham tr. Psalm xxiii in Forme of Prayers Eng. Congregation at Geneua Psalmes of Dauid 56 The lord is onlye my support.
1594 T. Kyd tr. R. Garnier Cornelia iv. ii. 201 High Ioue the heauens among (Their support that suffer wrong).
1649 Bp. J. Taylor Great Exemplar iii. 164 It is to us a comfort and support, pleasant to our spirits.
1671 J. Milton Samson Agonistes 554 O madness, to think use of..strongest drinks our chief support of health. View more context for this quotation
1720 J. Ozell et al. tr. R. A. de Vertot Hist. Revol. Rom. Republic I. vi. 332 Wholesome Terror was the Support of the Sumptuary Laws.
1741 W. Shenstone Judgm. Hercules 314 Nor swells the grape..Without the firm supports of industry.
1831 W. Scott Count Robert vi, in Tales of my Landlord 4th Ser. III. 128 [Hereward] the most important support of Comnenus during the whole of that eventful day.
1849 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. II. vi. 125 Institutions, which..had been considered as the strongest supports of monarchical power.
1907 A. J. Steelman Charities for Children in City of Mexico xviii. 84 While faithful attendance upon religious duties is a necessary support of this system no threats or punishments are used in religious matters.
1937 R. K. Narayan Bachelor of Arts viii. 119 Chandran's only support and consolation at this juncture was Mohan.
1965 J. Manton Elizabeth Garrett Anderson ii. xix. 327 In the anguish of love and loss for her children Skelton's strength had been his wife's support.
2009 A. Grant Words can Describe xiv. 150 Claire was a great support during these difficult weeks.
b. A body supporting other armed forces, esp. troops; the second line in a battle. Usually in plural.
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > armed forces > the Army > part of army by position > [noun] > second line
help1490
support1761
second line1797
1761 Ess. Art War 581 The Center, and the two Supports of the Line on Right and Left, will undoubtedly be the strongest and best provided with Troops.
1777 J. M. Hadden Jrnl. 6 July in Hadden's Jrnl. & Orderly Bks. (1884) 85 The affair was at least doubtful the Enemy having nearly turned his Flank, when a Detachment under Maj'r Gen'l Reidesil (The Chasseurs & Jagers) sent as a support very fortunately came up.
1816 Encycl. Perthensis (ed. 2) XV. 621/2 The intermediate ships left behind them in the line will be sufficient to amuse even the whole of B's fleet, till the ships G shall form a new line HH as a support from the leeward.
1835 A. Alison Hist. Europe from French Revol. (ed. 2) III. xxv. 516/1 Napoleon..was perfectly aware that the fleet was lying in Aboukir Bay; and it was evidently retained there by his orders or with his approbation, as a support to the army, or a means of retreat in case of disaster.
1852 R. Burn Naval & Mil. Techn. Dict. French Lang. (ed. 2) ii. 277 Supports to a line of skirmishers, réserves de compagnies.
1874 F. G. D. Bedford Sailor's Pocket Bk. vii. 218 The leading boats are to contain skirmishers and supports.
1889 Infantry Drill 429 The flanks of the support.
1896 Proc. U.S. Naval Inst. 22 22 The heavier ships must bear the brunt of the fight, and the lighter ships simply act as supports.
1931 ‘C. Denison’ in Martial Medley 83 He had looked about him carefully in reserves and supports, acquainted himself thoroughly with the nature of such trenches as he saw.
1965 J. Brophy & E. Partridge Long Trail 195 The main links between the front line and the supports and reserves were called communication trenches.
2009 J. F. Schmutz Battle of Crater vii. 115 The second division..and Turner's division of the Tenth Corps were both placed in Burnside's rear as reserve supports.
c. Originally: the supporting actors or cast of a play, opera, film, etc., considered collectively. Now usually: (as a count noun): a supporting actor or cast member. Cf. support v. 9c.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > performance arts > drama > actor > [noun] > actor playing specific type of part > supporting actor > collectively
support1848
society > leisure > the arts > performance arts > drama > actor > [noun] > actor playing specific type of part > supporting actor
support1891
1848 Theatr. Times 29 July 343/2 The support was worse than inefficient; Emma Stanley and Miss Villars, good vaudeville actresses, were thrust into Opera parts, to which they were utterly incompetant.
1888 Stage 25 May 4/2 Miss Lytton is very successful in the dual part of Isabel and Bet Dubbs, whilst the support is otherwise very efficient.
1891 Cent. Dict. 6074/3 Support,..an actor or actress who plays a subordinate or minor part with a star.
1904 W. D. Adams Dict. Drama I. 262 In 1876 Cathcart appeared at Drury Lane with Barry Sullivan (with whom he was associated for some years as leading ‘support’ and stage director).
1979 S. Brett Comedian Dies xii. 117 All of the minor comedy supports were giving extravagantly self-indulgent (but funny) cameos [in the play].
2002 List (Glasgow & Edinb. Events Guide) 4 July 71/2 Of this large ensemble, the supports steal the show.
d. Frequently without article. A band, group, or performer functioning as a secondary act to another; = support act n. at Compounds 3, support band n. at Compounds 3.
ΚΠ
1947 Billboard 4 Jan. 23/3 [The] show was headlined by Johnny (Scat) Davis,..with Peggy Mann as support.
1966 Billboard 5 Feb. 36/4 The bill will be headed by Herman's Hermits and Tom Jones, with New Zealand artist Ray Columbus as support.
1977 Chainsaw Sept. 5/1 We played support to the Saints at the Marquee last week.
1985 B. Young & M. Moody Lang. Rock 'n' Roll 26 On my very first tour and very first London date we were out as support and most of RCA were in the theatre to cheer us on.
1999 D. Haslam Manchester, Eng. iv. 91 When I was playing in trad bands the support would often be a Merseybeat-type group.
2010 C. Campion Walking on Moon i. 14 He booked a Scottish funk act called the Average White Band as support on tour with Eric Clapton, inadvertently launching their career.
7.
a. A thing that holds up, or sustains the weight of, an object, keeps an object upright, or on which an object rests.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > relative position > support > [noun] > that which supports
staffc1000
hold1042
source1359
legc1380
shorer1393
stabilimenta1398
upholder1398
sustentationa1400
undersetterc1400
bearinga1425
undersettinga1425
suppowellc1430
triclinec1440
sustentaclec1451
supportera1475
sustainerc1475
sustenal1483
stayc1515
buttress1535
underpinning1538
firmament1554
countenance1565
support1570
appuia1573
comfort1577
hypostasis1577
underpropping1586
porter1591
supportation1593
supportance1597
understaya1603
bearer1607
rest1609
upsetter1628
mountinga1630
sustent1664
underlay1683
holdfast1706
abutment1727
suppeditor1728
mount1739
monture1746
bed1793
appoggiatura1833
bracing1849
bench1850
under-pinner1859
bolster-piece1860
sustainer1873
table mount1923
1570 P. Levens Manipulus Vocabulorum sig. Oiiiv/1 A Supporte, adminiculum.
1611 in J. B. Heath Some Acct. Worshipful Company of Grocers (1869) 91 [No apprentice to wear] any piccadilly or other support in, with, about the collar of his doublett.
1682 H. Keepe Monumenta Westmonasteriensia 23 That curious Chappel..built by King Henry VII. whose Battlements, Windows, Supports, and Adornments speak..the Magnificence of the Founder.
1703 R. Neve City & Countrey Purchaser 8 In Architecture 'tis us'd to signifie an intern Support to the Superstructure.
1785 T. Martyn tr. J.-J. Rousseau Lett. Elements Bot. xxxi. 485 The parts I now allude to, are what he [sc. Linnæus] calls Fulcra, props or supports of the plant.
1827 M. Faraday Chem. Manip. xxiv. 639 A crucible,..with its cover and a support.
1854 J. L. Petit Archit. Stud. France p. viii Mark the directions of the several thrusts and supports.
1875 A. W. Bennett & W. T. T. Dyer tr. J. von Sachs Text-bk. Bot. iii. v. 782 Curvatures caused..by the pressure of supports on tendrils.
1879 R. K. Douglas Confucianism iv. 95 A chair which..stands unevenly on its feet is useless as a support.
1915 Abbott's Digest All New York Rep. 18 683/1 He in falling grasped one of the upright supports of the scaffold which extended above the floor of the scaffold. The support broke and plaintiff fell to the ground.
1971 S. Howatch Penmarric (1972) iv. x. 525 Do you know what happens when timber supports are so rotten that one fingertouch will send them crumbling into dust?
1996 Times 20 May 3/5 (advt.) The interior is extraordinarily light and airy. This is achieved by a breath-taking complex of steel supports which leave vast uncluttered spaces.
b. Philosophy. = substratum n. 2.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > philosophy > metaphysics > [noun] > matter or substance
substancea1398
first substance1551
subject1590
hypostasis1605
byss1649
body1651
substratum1651
support1660
general substance1697
supporter1697
substrate1730
object-subject1867
1660 T. Stanley tr. J.-H. Quarré Spirit. Treasury iii. vii. 184 As substance is the support of all Accidents, so faith is the support and basis of all Vertues and Graces.
1690 J. Locke Ess. Humane Understanding ii. xxiii. 137 Because we cannot conceive, how they [sc. qualities] should subsist alone, nor one in another, we suppose them to exist in, and supported by some common subject; which Support we denote by the name Substance.
1740 G. Cheyne Ess. Regimen 34 We can no more penetrat into the Substratum or Support of the Qualities by the natural Activity of our Spirits, than our Eyes can see Objects at a certain Distance.
1790 Analyt. Rev. 20 App. 261 In treating of substance as the support of certain qualities, Dr. H. observes, that..incompressibility is the only fixed and unchangeable property belonging to matter.
1822 F. Beasley Search of Truth in Sci. of Human Mind ii. viii. 278 It is true that the term support or substratum, still used in the schools, serves no better to give us a clear and distinct idea of substance.
1866 Rep. President Queen's College, Belfast App. 35 Examine the theory, that substance is the support of qualities.
1919 C. E. M. Joad Ess. Common-sense Philos. (1920) i. 16 According to this view, all secondary qualities, such as colour and heat, are stripped from the physical world, and all that we are left with is some support or substratum to the qualities in the object which produce ideas in us.
1967 S. Appelbaum & C. C. Strowbridge tr. J. Marías Hist. Philos. 69 This is a decisive point: substance is the support or substratum for its ‘accidents’; red, hard, square, and so on, are supported by the substance ‘table’.
2009 K. P. Winkler in J. Kim et al. Compan. to Metaphysics (ed. 2) 225/1 Substance as the support of qualities is an ‘unintelligible chimera’.
c. Photography. The substance (as film, glass, or paper) that carries the light-sensitive medium.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > visual arts > photography > plates and films > [noun] > glass, paper, etc., supporting film
support1860
1860 Photographic News 11 May 15/2 We require a support for the sensitive iodide of silver.
1878 W. de W. Abney Treat. Photogr. v. 36 In the collodion process,..the support may be of glass, if it be backed with some dark-coloured substance.
1904 Rev. Amer. Chem. Res. 10 134 A sensitive layer is applied to one side of a nitrocellulose support.
1967 E. Chambers Photolitho-offset ix. 118 The more recent introduction of the thermoplastic material polyethylene terephthalate..as a support for photographic emulsions has increased considerably the dimensional stability of films.
2003 B. Warren Photography v. 79/1 The support—also called the base—is paper rather than a transparent film.
d. The solid surface or material on which a painting is executed.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > visual arts > painting and drawing > equipment for painting or drawing > [noun] > surface for painting or drawing
tablea1387
tablet1395
subjectile1845
excipient1855
support1892
1892 J. G. Vibert Sci. of Painting viii. 96 A picture is composed of three altogether distinct elements:—1. The support, or the material substance painted on, as wood, canvas, stone, paper, etc.
1926 A. P. Laurie Painter's Methods & Materials iv. 53 Well-seasoned panels of wood form an excellent support for pictures.
1958 M. L. Wolf Dict. Painting 286 The support is covered with the ground..for evenness, and is then ready to receive the actual painting.
2008 B. R. Greenberg & D. Patterson Art in Chem. (ed. 2) iii. 122 In a fresco painting, freshly prepared plaster is the support and the ground for the painting.
e. Chemistry. A substance or material to which a catalyst is affixed.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > chemistry > chemical reactions or processes > [noun] > processes or substances affecting reactions > catalysis > catalyst > supporting medium for
support1898
carrier1902
1898 U.S. Patent 612,614 1/2 The combustible material previous to being eliminated by burning or otherwise serves as a base or support for the catalytic agent as fast as formed.
1914 C. Ellis Hydrogenation of Oils ii. 37 Hydrogen..is passed into the substance to be treated..in presence of a base metal catalyst, which may be held on an inert support.
1938 H. K. Dean Utilization Fats iv. 128 The catalyst is prepared by mixing the support into a solution of a nickel salt in large vats.
1979 Oil & Gas Jrnl. (Nexis) 9 July 132 At the end of its useful life, the spent catalyst support contains significant quantities of readily leachable cuprous chloride.
2007 A. Lekhal et al. in J. Regalbuto Catalyst Prepar. xvi. 377 The performance of supported catalysts critically depends on the distribution of the metal within the porous support.
8.
a. Something that supports life; a supply of necessaries; a means of livelihood or subsistence. Formerly occasionally simply: †food, provisions (obsolete).
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > food > supply of food or provisions > [noun]
victualsa1375
substancec1384
repasta1393
kitchenc1400
tablec1405
stuff1436
acates1465
acatry1522
victualling1532
provision1555
achates1570
plate1577
avitaile1592
support1599
horn and corn1633
subsistence1640
cribbing1652
purvey1678
commissariat1811
ration1814
commissary1883
the world > life > source or principle of life > [noun] > as dependent on sustenance > means of life
bylivec1000
sustenancec1300
sustaining1395
sap1526
livinga1538
maintenance1540
life-breath1597
support1599
subsistence1606
through-bearing1705
1599 T. Dallam Diary in J. T. Bent Early Voy. Levant (1893) i. 88 We carried our supportes and other Lugedge to the sea-sid.
1611 M. Smith in Bible (King James) Transl. Pref. ⁋1 Liuelyhood and support fit for their estates.
1623 W. Shakespeare & J. Fletcher Henry VIII ii. iii. 64 To which Title, A Thousand pound a yeare, Annuall support,..he addes. View more context for this quotation
1691 J. Hartcliffe Treat. Virtues 261 The first Commoners of the Earth did employ their Heads about getting the necessary supports of Life.
1761 Gentleman's Mag. Feb. 68/2 If many of my fellow brethren have lost more than I, they have hardly lost their whole support and livelihood, as I have.
1789 Massachusetts Spy 20 Aug. 3/2 We now doubt his acceptance of that place, unless a decent support should be annexed to it.
1791 A. Radcliffe Romance of Forest III. xix. 210 La Luc..tried to take some support, but the convulsions of his throat would not suffer him to swallow.
1823 W. Scott Quentin Durward III. xii. 297 I trust there is charity enough among the noble friends of my house, to make up some support for the orphan of Croye.
1839 R. Dawes Nix's Mate I. ii. 43 She was often driven abroad amidst the inclemency of winter, unknown to her brutal, uncongenial partner, to beg for that support which his beastly necessities denied her.
1897 Atlantic Reporter 36 1011/2 The consideration of these premises was to be her support and maintenance of the child.
1966 Symp. Res. in Agric. (U.S. Dept. Agric., Nat. Acad. Sci.) 80/2 The total inadequate fund support in the States allows less than an adequate support per man for research.
2003 F. Rosner tr. A. Stenberg Encycl. Jewish Med. Ethics 66/1 If an infertile man agrees to his wife being impregnated by insemination with donor sperm, he must provide her with sustenance and support for the child born as a result of the insemination.
b. A person or thing that provides a means of livelihood, or maintains a person or community.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > possession > supply > [noun] > provision of means of support or livelihood > one who
maintainera1450
provisora1475
provider1616
sustentationa1631
head-worker1640
support1677
breadwinner1783
family head2002
1677 T. Sheridan Disc. Rise & Power Parl. 184 Trade is the Support of any Kingdom.
1745 R. Pococke Descr. East II. ii. ii. xxiii. 114 The support of this place is a great export of white wine.
1747 R. Campbell London Tradesman lxix. 276 Such Families as take in the small Bread, are the chief Support of the Baker.
1825 C. Lamb in London Mag. Apr. 513 Her slender earnings were the sole support of the family.
1883 J. Gilmour Among Mongols xxiii. 285 He was..the sole support of his father.
1926 Boys' Life Oct. 21/3 He had told the truth to Pierre Chaubain—he was the only support of his widowed mother and he did need money.
1974 Rotarian Dec. 34/1 The Australian government makes available funds to state governments to build housing for aged persons whose sole support is their pension.
2010 T. Little There's Always Way x. 130 When he was seven years old he was the main financial support of his family.
9. Mathematics. A set of points where a given function is non-zero; spec. the smallest set of this kind (its closure).
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > number > mathematical number or quantity > numerical arrangement > [noun] > set > in abstract algebra
coset1910
superset1917
neighbourhood1934
orbit1939
support1952
1952 Ann. Math. 55 112 K is a compact set containing the support of f.
1967 S. MacLane & G. Birkhoff Algebra iv. 143 Show that the set of all functions f with finite support constitute a ring..under pointwise sum and convolution product.
2005 M. Denuit Actuarial Theory Dependent Risks iv. 202 When C is singular its support has Lebesgue measure 0.
Compounds
C1. attributive. In the sense ‘that provides material, psychological, or evidential support, giving backing’, as support money, support party, support staff, etc.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > possession > supply > [adjective] > provided or supplied with something
warnishedc1340
graitha1400
yfraughtc1412
replenished1548
freight1556
furnished1570
fraught1574
supplied1590
suggested?1592
support1733
1733 B. Shurmer Let. 13 Mar. in S. Hazard Pennsylvania Arch. (1852) I. 391 I have Inquired of Mr. Manlove..concerning the Governrs Support Money.
1881 J. P. Bishop Comm. Law Marriage & Divorce (ed. 6) II. xii. xxxv. 471 Support Money.—Under a statute authorizing the court to ‘make such disposition of and provision for the children as shall appear most expedient’, there is no jurisdiction to set apart funds of either parent for their benefit, except for maintenance and education during minority.
1892 R. Carrick Romance Lake Wakatipu xvii. 70 The support party, immediately at hand, covered them with their rifles.
1903 F. G. Guggisberg Mod. Warfare ii. vii. 119 The support troops have come up and halted immediately in rear of the patrols.
1917 F. A. Coleman With Cavalry in Great War 193 It served as a support position, and between it and the canal were whole colonies of dugouts.
1920 R. Scheer Germany's High Sea Fleet iii. xvii. 309 Here the support ships for the operations in the north could anchor.
1953 F. P. Magoun in Speculum 28 460 At least some of the language of the Riddles is traditional, since verses from these appear in the support-evidence.
1956 in C. J. Barry Worship & Work 423 I was particularly attracted to the sense of community which I found on campus; the monks, the students, the support staff, all seemed to form one large family.
1962 Listener 29 Mar. 549/1 The British..could be fairly allowed to bring back a division [from Germany] to this country and let that division act in a support role.
1977 C. McFadden Serial (1978) ix. 24/1 He was uptight about the support money he gave her.
1980 New Age (U.S.) Oct. 21/1 How important it is to use your personal support network, and your head, when dealing with illness.
1998 L. E. Semler Eng. Mannerist Poets & Visual Arts ii. 85 Regardless of her support argument she has articulated the fact that defense of male identity lies at the core of female confinement.
2008 J. P. Mueller LINQ for Dummies iv. xv. 331 The support staff that works with your application will want to automate as many support functions as possible.
C2.
a. In the sense ‘that holds up or sustains the weight of a body, that keeps a body upright, on which a body rests’, as support beam, support wall, etc.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > relative position > support > [adjective] > supporting
bearingOE
portativea1500
supporting1591
shoring1622
stutted1638
supportive1665
firmamental1696
sustinent1704
support1778
sustaining1814
self-supporting1832
1778 J. Abercrombie Universal Gardener & Botanist at Dianthus For want of a covered stage to screen the flowers, you may contrive a kind of small umbrellas or round-spreading caps,..having a socket in the middle to receive the tops of the support-stick.
1810 J. Smith Syst. Mod. Geogr. I. 330 The tents of this people are composed of pieces of the bark of trees sewed together, and covered with rein-deer skins; their shape is pyramidal, their support poles of a moderate thickness.
1831 Ld. Carbery Observ. Grand Jury Syst. Ireland 54 I would, therefore, propose, that all damages done to the battlements, or support walls, of bridges, should be charged on the parish in which the bridge is situate.
1847 C. Morfit Chem. applied to Manuf. Soap & Candles xlvi. 412 Each of these cogs is fixed at the end of the two support beams.
1860 Ann. Rep. Commissioner Patents 1859: Arts & Manuf. I. 214 in U.S. Congress. Serial Set (36th Congr., 1st Sess.: House of Representatives Executive Doc. 12) VII T is the support point of the spoke whose elevation is regulated by the wedge V.
1872 P. L. Simmonds Commerc. Dict. Trade Products (rev. ed.) 457/2 Strut, in building, a support beam on which masonry rests.
1921 Gas Age 27 Aug. 240/3 A support wall is left between each door straight through the furnace.
1926 H. W. Krieger Coll. Primitive Weapons & Armor of Philippine Islands in United States National Museum 51 It is customary for the individual owner of such spears to use them as a support staff in climbing the steep hills and mountains.
1976 M. Machlin Pipeline liii. 526 By one p.m. Simon Orloff had climbed the twelve foot support member.
2003 A. K. Lathrop Churches of Minnesota Gloss. p. xvii Engaged buttress, a support buttress attached to the building throughout its length.
2007 Time Out N.Y. 19 July 113/4 Stilt walkers from hobo-cabaret act Yard Dogs Road Show danced deliriously and an excited fan climbed a support beam to swing from the tent's ropes.
b. spec. Designating items worn on or applied to part of the body for support.
ΘΚΠ
the world > health and disease > healing > medical appliances or equipment > surgical supports > [adjective]
support1855
the world > food and drink > farming > animal husbandry > keeping or management of horses > shoeing of horses > [adjective] > types of shoe
support1855
nailless1866
1855 Amer. Vet. Jrnl. 1 273 The animal being then in a very high condition, a support shoe was placed on the foot of the diseased limb.
1858 P. L. Simmonds Dict. Trade Products Truss-maker, a maker of support bandages for rupture or hernia.
1865 T. P. Salt Pract. Treat. Rupture (ed. 2) vi. 92 (heading) Uterine support belt.
1899 Railway Surgeon (Chicago) 4 July 73/2 The application of a light emergency support splint to a fractured extremity.
1913 Catal. Copyright Entries: Pt. 1, Group 2 (Libr. of Congr. Copyright Office) 10 Index 1480/2 Uplift corset co.: Abdo-support corset.]
1928 Boys' Life Nov. 10/3 It was not until Larry proceeded to the applying of a broad adhesive support-bandage to the injured instep..that the patrol leader asked the patient just what had happened.
1944 Life 11 Dec. 110/1 (advt.) The precision-cut, luxury-support brassiere that instantly transforms any bust into youthful, alluring contours!]
1957 Evening Capital (Annapolis, Maryland) 18 Sept. 8/6 (advt.) For Housewives... For Mothers-To-Be... For Working Women... For Women With Varicose Veins... At Last! Fashionable Relief for Tired Legs... Sup-hose. Sheer Support Hosiery by MOJUD.
1975 Guardian 25 Mar. 13/5 Support hose or support tights are supplied through the Hospital Supply Service.
1982 S. Conran Lace xviii. 213 No, don't you dare come in, I'm heaving myself into this disgusting support corset.
1988 K. Calzone et al. in J. K. Harness Breast Cancer iv. xxv. 337 Appropriate clothing, e.g., firm support bra.
1995 Fiddlehead Winter 13 She chewed, her fork clenched in her fist like a weapon, her feet in their bulky support shoes planted squarely on the floor.
2002 List (Glasgow & Edinb. Events Guide) 4 July 76/3 My figure is the result of harsh dieting, modern science and industrial support tights.
C3.
support act n. a band, group, or performer functioning as a secondary act to another at a concert, etc.
ΚΠ
1945 Billboard 26 Oct. 35/3 The floorshow..starting October 26, when Shavo Sherman headlines with two as yet unnamed support acts.
1973 M. Bygrave et al. Other Careers 253 Most clubs and colleges are unwilling to pay more than ten quid for a support act... If they've forked out a fortune for the name band, they'll be just as happy..[to have] a disco.
2003 Australian 8 Dec. (Brisbane ed.) 17/6 All this fails, however, to avert the conclusion that tonight 50 has been upstaged by his support act..who's all skill and no gimmicks.
support band n. a band that functions as a secondary act in a pop concert, typically by preceding the main act; = support group n. (b).
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > music > musician > instrumentalist > company of instrumentalists > [noun] > band > type of
waits1298
consort1587
wait player1610
wind music1650
the fiddles1676
military band1775
German band1819
street band1826
brass band1834
promenade band1836
horn-band1849
pipe band1867
wind-band1876
Hungarian band1882
jazz band1916
jazz orchestra1916
big band1919
road band1922
Schrammel quartet1924
showband1926
spasm band1926
dance-band1927
marching band1930
name band1932
ork1933
silver band1933
sweet band1935
Schrammel orchestra1938
pop band1942
jug band1946
steel band1949
rehearsal band1957
skiffle band1957
ghost band1962
support band1969
support group1969
scratch band1982
1969 Billboard 26 Apr. 39/2 Suddenly they were hoisted from the status of an unknown support band into considerable success.
1971 ZigZag Mar. Have you seen any support bands lately that you think will make it?
2004 S. Hunter Hell Bent for Leather (2005) xiii. 246 We watched the local pub-rock support band with barely disguised derision.
support barge n. a barge providing assistance for offshore oil-drilling.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > travel by water > vessel, ship, or boat > vessel of specific construction or shape > flat-bottomed boat > [noun] > barge > other types of barge
coal barge1720
budgerow1727
water1727
brick barge1738
tent-barge1796
water barge1798
passage-barge1804
steam barge1812
schooner barge1819
tongkang1834
bumbarge1839
Tom Pudding1880
grain-barge1902
butty1923
support barge1967
reel barge1972
1967 Pop. Mech. May 111/1 Star III is lifted from her support barge and swung overboard.
1976 Offshore Engineer Apr. 5/1 Field operator Occidental has given a letter of intent for a long-term charter of the Bredford, the first purpose-built semi-submersible support barge.
2002 Guardian (Nexis) 3 Sept. 6 Work on Ensco 1..involves the construction and installation of an auxiliary support barge onto the drilling unit.
support buying n. the purchase of a commodity, a currency, or stocks and shares, in order to encourage a price rise.
ΘΚΠ
society > trade and finance > stocks and shares > [noun] > specific operations or arrangements > share-buying activities
subscribing1762
flyer1846
bearing1849
stagging1851
take-up1865
bear covering1881
straddle1883
portfolio investment1929
short covering1930
support buying1932
foreign portfolio investment1951
corporate raiding1957
leveraged1957
tender offer1964
buy-in1968
management buyout1977
bought deal1981
greenmail1983
MBO1986
bimbo1991
1932 Economist 9 Jan. 69/2 The time to support prices was opportune. Support buying of highgrade bonds, particularly in the railroad list, has resulted in improvement of prices and a stronger tone in all security markets.
1969 Times 13 Jan. 11/1 There will..be support buying to support the levies in some cases.
2010 J. H. V. Davies in M. Franklin Joining CAP ii. vii. 198 The Government had decided to abandon its system of support buying and, from April 1974, any further support buying was to be financed by a levy on the industry.
support cost n. a cost incurred in supporting the continuance of something; spec. a cost for supporting the armed services.
ΘΚΠ
society > trade and finance > management of money > expenditure > [noun] > expenses > other expenses
reparation1421
out-rent1475
farmage1650
tavernryc1650
travelling expenses1653
capital expenditure1834
capital outlay1834
travel expenses1839
capital cost1841
operating expenses1850
repair bill1858
carrying charge1879
capital spending1882
replacement cost1884
operating costs1901
carrying cost1904
user cost1922
support cost1953
1953 Times 27 Apr. 6/4 Of the 950m. marks, 400m. will be devoted to the support costs of allied troops for the first six months after the treaty comes into force.
a1974 R. Crossman Diaries (1976) II. 208 I went across to the Party meeting on German support costs.
2010 Daily Tel. 20 July 2 Possible future savings by scrapping the scheme include up to £50million a year on maintenance and support costs.
support floor n. Economics and Finance (a) a level that triggers support of prices, etc., esp. in agricultural produce; (b) = support level n.
ΚΠ
1942 Barron's National Business & Financial Weekly 28 Sept. 6/2 Raising the support floors under certain commodities to 90% of parity..would be likely to have an immediate effect on grain prices.
1972 Guardian 2 Feb. 1 The dollar sank close to its new ‘support floor’.
2010 J. Chen Ess. Techn. Anal. for Financial Markets vi. 60 Other traders prefer to treat these ranges as breakout trading opportunities, waiting for a breakout above the resistance ceiling or a breakdown below the support floor before getting into any trade.
support group n. a group of people providing support; spec. (a) a group of people giving support to a charitable or political organization; (b) = support band n.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > easiness > aid, help, or assistance > support > [noun] > that which or one who supports > one who > group
back1566
support group1940
society > leisure > the arts > music > musician > instrumentalist > company of instrumentalists > [noun] > band > type of
waits1298
consort1587
wait player1610
wind music1650
the fiddles1676
military band1775
German band1819
street band1826
brass band1834
promenade band1836
horn-band1849
pipe band1867
wind-band1876
Hungarian band1882
jazz band1916
jazz orchestra1916
big band1919
road band1922
Schrammel quartet1924
showband1926
spasm band1926
dance-band1927
marching band1930
name band1932
ork1933
silver band1933
sweet band1935
Schrammel orchestra1938
pop band1942
jug band1946
steel band1949
rehearsal band1957
skiffle band1957
ghost band1962
support band1969
support group1969
scratch band1982
1940 Times 3 Dec. 3/2 I went out with a mule train, when the darkness was coming down, back to a support group.
1956 Times 1 Nov. 11/3 A running fight between the two main political parties and their organized support groups.
1969 Listener 10 July 59/1 After all this and the excellent support groups, the Rolling Stones were a musical disappointment.
1976 Spare Rib Dec. 13/1 Our support group is small so we have very few problems with disagreements on tactics, etc., but have to work harder.
2003 Independent 12 May (Review section) 9/2 At this point I ring a friend, talk things through and go to my support group rather than hit the fridge.
2005 Independent (Nexis) 5 Nov. For their first gig, the Sex Pistols were support group to the band I was in, Bazooka Joe.
support level n. Stock Market originally U.S. a lower price level for a security or commodity below which prices do not ordinarily fall; cf. resistance level n. at resistance n. Compounds 4.
ΘΚΠ
society > trade and finance > monetary value > price > [noun] > specific price level
trigger-point1891
support level1906
ceiling1934
roof1939
floor1941
support floor1942
1906 Atlanta (Georgia) Constit. 26 Jan. 10/4 The breaking of support levels will be professionally interpreted as temporarily lower levels, and action in accordance with conservatism should be taken.
1998 Economist 21 Mar. 59/3 If the market price falls below the support level, tobacco is purchased and stored by tobacco co-operatives.
2003 D. L. Scott Wall St. Words (ed. 3) 367 A support level develops as investors miss purchasing a stock just before a price rise and resolve to buy the stock if it again reaches that level.
support line n. Military (a) a second line of troops, etc., in a battle; (b) a trench occupied by such troops.
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > military operations > distribution of troops > military position > [noun] > second line
support line1898
1898 Milwaukee (Wisconsin) Sentinel 8 May The support lines are replenished from the reserves directly in the rear.
1917 W. Owen Let. 4 Feb. (1967) 430 We worked back through the reserve, & support lines to the crazy village where the Battalion takes breath.
1941 Life 7 July 46/2 Covered by the rifles and machine guns of the first line, the support line of boats now comes up with heavier weapons.
1971 S. Hill Strange Meeting ii. 110 Garrett had asked Hilliard to write to the men's relatives, as soon as they got into the support line the following day.
2010 T. Mason & E. Riedi Sport & Mil. iii. 81 Units went from the front line to the support line then into the reserve and finally to a rest area.
support service n. (a) an ancillary service such as administration or maintenance; a department or agency providing such a service (usually in plural); (b) a type of assistance or resource providing help to a particular group of people, esp. as provided by a government or local authority (usually in plural).
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > duties > [noun] > subordinate
subfunction1857
support service1964
society > society and the community > social attitudes > philanthropy > [noun] > social service or work > types of
casework1892
child welfare1907
social casework1916
youth work1944
support service1964
1964 Rotarian Nov. 25/2 This space city in the making will have its own bank, post office, and cafeterias, in addition to the support service buildings and facilities—from administrative offices to fuel-storage areas.
1965 Times 30 Mar. 18/5 One school of thought in psychiatric medicine lays the blame squarely at the door of local authorities which have, it is suggested, been laggard in supplying the support services which would in many cases enable the discharged patient to stay out.
1979 Computerworld 23 Apr. (Special Rep.) 13/1 Of the many support services provided, data entry operations are considered to be among the most important specified in the contract.
1988 Family Pract. 5 184/2 Dementia..places great strain on families and support services.
2009 T. Footman Noughties ix. 135 Manufacturing was the first Western industry to make the move east, but many support services followed as high-speed phone and internet lines made outsourcing easier than ever.
support price n. a minimum price for agricultural produce, maintained by support buying or deficiency payments.
ΘΚΠ
society > trade and finance > monetary value > price > [noun] > artificially arranged prices
staple ratea1628
sheriff fiars1689
fiars1723
pool price1872
parity1941
support price1943
shadow-price1965
trigger price1978
1943 Sun (Baltimore) 30 Jan. 18/4 So-called support prices, the minimum which canners may pay this year to growers who participate in the subsidy program,..are as follows.
1959 A. H. McLintock Descr. Atlas N.Z. 44 In the long run ‘support prices’ cannot diverge very far from market realisations.
1974 Times 15 Jan. 1/7 The Council..had rejected..an immediate 10 per cent rise in the support price for beef paid to farmers.
2000 News (Karachi) 25 Apr. 13/6 On new cotton policy, Shafi Niaz said that the recently fixed support price of silver fibre crop would help alleviate poverty in the rural areas.
support trench n. Military a trench forming part of a line of strongpoints in the rear of the strongpoints of a firing line.
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > defence > defensive work(s) > earthwork or rampart > [noun] > trench > types of trench
transverse1704
front trench1847
communicating trench1857
shelter-trench1870
firing bay1885
communication trench1903
fire trench1907
funk-hole1914
support trench1914
foxhole1915
fire bay1916
slit-trench1942
1914 Times 12 Nov. 5/4 Pte. C. Rowley..volunteered to go back for ammunition from the forward firing line to the support trench.
1923 R. Kipling Irish Guards in Great War I. 40 The line of support-trenches was held.
1998 J. H. Cockfield With Snow on their Boots (1999) iv. 104 The 2nd battalion of the 6th regiment fought hard to take the first enemy trenches and then attacked the support trenches.
support vowel n. Phonetics an epenthetic vowel, spec. one between a word-final and word-initial consonant.
ΚΠ
1954 N. M. Holmer Ojibway Walpole Island, Ont. 22 In certain cases support vowels arise in sandhi between a final and initial consonant, whereby clusters are avoided.
1980 J. C. Birmingham in J. L. Dillard Perspectives Amer. Eng. iv. 342 Papiamentu normally reduces consonant clusters by epenthesis, or the addition of a support vowel which, by assimilation, is usually the same as the vowel in the preceding syllable.
2003 J. I. Hualde in J. I. Hualde & J. O. de Urbina Gram. Basque ii. 57 In the dialect of Zeberio (southwestern Bizkaia), a support vowel is often inserted after word final -k. This support vowel is a copy of the preceding vowel.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2012; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
supportv.
/səˈpɔːt/, U.S. /səˈpɔrt/ 1.
a. transitive. To endure without opposition or resistance; to bear with, put up with, tolerate. In later use chiefly in negative contexts.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > calmness > patience > endure patiently [verb (transitive)] > bear with or tolerate
forbearc897
tholec950
bearOE
abidec1300
bidea1325
takec1330
suffer1340
wielda1375
to have patience with (also in, toward)c1384
supportc1384
to sit with ——c1400
sustainc1400
thulgec1400
acceptc1405
to away with1528
brook1530
well away1533
to bear with —1538
digest1553
to comport with1565
stand1567
purse?1571
to put up1573
well away1579
comport1588
fadge1592
abrook1594
to come away1594
to take up with1609
swallow1611
embracea1616
to pack up1624
concocta1627
to set down bya1630
to take with ——1632
tolerate1646
brook1658
stomach1677
pouch1819
c1384 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(2)) (1850) 2 Cor. xi. 1 I wolde ȝe schulden susteyne a litil thing of myn vnwysdom, but and supporte me [gloss or bere vp me; L. supportate me].
a1425 (c1395) Bible (Wycliffite, L.V.) (Royal) (1850) Coloss. iii. 13 And support [L. supportantes] ȝe echon other.
?a1425 tr. Catherine of Siena Orcherd of Syon (Harl.) (1966) 357 (MED) Alle siche schinen among synners as preciouse stoones of vertu, beringe & supportinge wiþ pacience defautis of hem.
c1550 Complaynt Scotl. (1979) xvii. 113 The vice of thy ȝongest brother suld be supportit be rason of his ignorance.
1579 W. Allen Let. 12 May in Rec. Eng. Catholics under Penal Laws (1882) (modernized text) II. 80 Shew your wisdom, charity and zeal in condescending, bearing and supporting their [sc. the students'] youthful miscarriages.
1654 E. Wolley tr. ‘G. de Scudéry’ Curia Politiæ 100 How can they support infamy as a matter indifferent?
a1684 J. Evelyn Diary anno 1673 (1955) IV. 16 These things his high spirit could not support.
1732 H. Fielding Mod. Husband iv. 54 I know several Women of Fashion I could not support for a tiring Woman.
1773 H. Chapone Lett. Improvem. Mind I. 83 I cannot support even the idea of your becoming one of those undone, lost creatures!
1847 W. M. Thackeray Vanity Fair (1848) xxv. 222 I respectfully decline to receive Mrs. Rawdon—I can't support that quite.
1897 T. C. Allbutt et al. Syst. Med. II. 433 Occasionally it [sc. milk] is not well supported by the patient in any form.
1901 Daily Mail 30 Oct. 4/4 He prefers to support the poacher's intrusion than to risk shooting at him.
1970 R. H. Wagner United States Policy toward Lat. Amer. i. i. 17 Although any single loss of influence in Latin America would be a matter of concern, only a whole series of such losses could present a major threat. It was precisely cumulative gains in Latin America that the Soviet Union could not support.
2010 M. D. Kavanwal Awry in Arabia iv. 75 First of all, I cannot support you dating a married man. It's wrong.
b. transitive. To continue to experience, undergo, esp. with fortitude or without breaking down; to bear up against. Cf. sense 7b.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > difficulty > opposition > oppose [verb (transitive)] > resist > maintain resistance against
to stand before ——OE
bearOE
tholec1175
sustainc1330
last1340
suffera1387
support1483
outstand1571
hold1592
to hold outa1616
ridea1649
brunt1800
to stand up to1921
1483 Chaucer's Troylus & Creseyde (Caxton) sig. ov Though to me youre absence be an helle With pacyence I wyl my wo supporte.
1578 H. Wotton tr. J. Yver Courtlie Controuersie 132 At least if any recompence dyd flowe in liew of payne, I would support with patience my woe in hope of gayne.
1608 W. Shakespeare King Lear xxiv. 194 His flawd heart..too weake, the conflict to support . View more context for this quotation
1615 G. Sandys Relation of Journey 146 Wrongs and contumelies, which they support with an invincible patience.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Othello (1622) i. iii. 258 I a heauy interim shall support, By his deare absence. View more context for this quotation
1671 A. Behn Forc'd Marriage i. ii. 10 Prethee how does she support this news?
a1700 in Publ. Catholic Rec. Soc. (1911) 9 336 A greevious infirmity..wch she supported wth great patience, and Resignation.
1773 S. Johnson Let. 17 Aug. (1992) II. 53 At supper there was such a Conflux of company, that I could scarcely support the tumult.
1794 A. Radcliffe Myst. of Udolpho III. xiii. 462 If she believed herself well enough to support the interview.
1805 E. Clark Banks of Douro II. 40 Neither of them could support being alone.
1888 W. Collins Legacy Cain (1891) xxxv. 156 But I was ignorant of this, and the disclosure by which I found myself suddenly confronted was more than I could support.
1940 H. T. Lowe-Porter tr. T. Mann Lotte in Weimar (1990) i. 16 ‘It is too much!’ breathed Mager. ‘It is too much for a human being to support!’
1989 M. Lane Literary Daughters iv. 111 She could not have supported life without some vestige of hope, some dream.
c. transitive. To continue to engage in, sustain, withstand (a battle or contest). Now rare.
ΚΠ
1689 Eng. Man's Complaint 2/1 We cannot hope for peace with France, nor to be long at Peace with Holland, and keep our Trade, nor to support a War with both.
1697 R. Blackmore King Arthur xi. 287 Shall Hell's great Prince, and Monarch of the Air, Sit tamely down, and languish in Despair, Unable longer to support the War?
1723 R. Blackmore Alfred ix. 318 Th' Agmatians long the bloody War support, Till born by Numbers down, and forc'd to yield; Their broken Cohorts left th' unequal Field.
1788 Gentleman's Mag. Dec. 632/2 Herself unable to support a literary contest, she called to her aid a clergyman named J—n, who was well experienced in all the manœuvres of newspaper contests.
1801 S. Turner Hist. Anglo-Saxons II. iii. ix. 156 Within two months afterwards, the princes of Wessex supported another battle with the recruited confederates at Merton.
1868 tr. E. Souvestre Pleasures of Old Age xvi. 119 The sufferer could not support the contest; I saw her fall backwards with her arms rigid and her eyes closed.
1996 B. Standaert in S. E. Porter & T. H. Olbricht Rhetoric, Script. & Theol. ii. 199 Yerubbaal..means most probably: the one who came through the initiation, having supported the battle with Baal in the initiation rite.
2. † b. transitive. Perhaps: to encourage. Obsolete.
a. transitive. To strengthen the position of (a person or community) by one's assistance, adherence, or toleration; to uphold the rights, claims, authority, or status of; to stand by, back up.With quot. 1429 cf. sense 9b.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > easiness > aid, help, or assistance > support > [verb (transitive)]
lasteOE
i-hentc1225
uphold?c1225
upbeara1300
sustainc1300
understand13..
uplift1338
maintainc1350
supporta1393
underset1395
buttressc1400
supprise1447
bolster1508
stay1526
stay1526
undershore?a1534
underpropa1535
to hold up by the chin1546
back1548
suborn1548
suffult?c1550
upshore?1567
shoulder1577
upstay1600
underwrite1609
abone1622
crutch1641
float1823
backstop1956
a1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) vii. l. 2144 And ek his kinges realte Mot every liege man conforte, With good and bodi to supporte.
1429 Norwich Constit. in Patent Roll, 8 Henry VI 15 Nov. (P.R.O.: C 66/426) m. 12 The xxiiij aldermen..xal..supporten the Mair..in..counsell ȝevyng in walkyng with hym on principal dayes and in procession.
a1450 (c1410) H. Lovelich Hist. Holy Grail xiv. l. 648 To him ward ful faste he gan to Ride Forto supporten him at that Tyde.
1508 W. Dunbar Ballade Barnard Stewart in Poems (1998) I. 178 Oure indeficient adiutorie,..That neuer saw Scot yit indigent nor sory Bot thou did hym suport with thi gud deid.
1569 R. Grafton Chron. II. 70 Sendyng to the king, to..desyre him, that he would not support nor maintaine his enemie within his Realme.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Coriolanus (1623) i. i. 80 [They] Make Edicts for Vsurie, to support Vsurers. View more context for this quotation
1651 T. Hobbes Leviathan ii. xxix. 168 So was Thomas Becket..supported against Henry the Second, by the Pope.
1686 tr. J. Chardin Coronation Solyman 104 in Trav. Persia Being supported by the favour of his Prince.
1713 R. Steele in Guardian 23 Mar. 1/2 For this reason I shall authorize and support the Gentleman.
1793 in G. Lamoine Charges to Grand Jury (1992) 484 The thanks of the county are due to the Most Noble the Marquis of Townshend, the Custos Rotulorum, and the other Justices who assembled for the purposes of declaring their resolution to support the Executive Government.
1849 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. I. iii. 354 A government, supported and trusted by London.
1884 A. R. Pennington Wiclif vii. 240 He had no party in the country to support him.
1922 R. B. Mowat New Hist. Great Brit. xxxii. 716 By this Act,..Russia, Prussia, and Austria, in the persons of their monarchs, promised to support each other.
1957 R. M. Hatton in J. O. Lindsay New Cambr. Mod. Hist. VII. xv. 360 The Hats tended to support the candidate preferred by France,..while the Caps, on England's advice, backed Prince William of Hesse, the brother of Frederick I.
2005 D. J. Fiore & T. Whitaker Six Types of Teachers xii. 122 We have spoken with many school principals who report that one of the most important parts of their job is to support teachers.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > easiness > aid, help, or assistance > support > support or encouragement > support or encourage [verb (transitive)]
shoveOE
to hold with (arch. of, on, for)1154
favour1362
abetc1380
sustainc1390
supportc1405
courage1470
comfort1481
friend1550
through-bear1554
countenance1568
foster1569
favourize1585
seconda1586
sidea1601
rally1624
feed1626
countenance1654
encourage1668
inserve1683
to go strong on1822
partake1861
sponsor1884
to hold a brief for1888
root1889
rah-rah1940
affirm1970
babysit1973
barrack-
c1405 (c1390) G. Chaucer Melibeus (Hengwrt) (2003) §738 He is moore worth þt repreueth or chideth a fool..than he þt supporteth hym & preiseth hym..& laugheth at his folie.
a1438 Bk. Margery Kempe (1940) i. 168 (MED) Þe sayd doctowr was to conuersawnt wyth þe sayd creatur, for-as-mech as he supportyd hir in hir wepyng & in hir crying.
c. transitive. To further by one's actions or approval; to uphold or have confidence in the validity or authority of (a thing). Cf. senses 6c, 8b.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > easiness > aid, help, or assistance > support > support or backing > support, side with, or back [verb (transitive)]
werea1300
to be abouta1400
support?a1439
to go with ——a1475
outbear1530
follow1548
subscribe1560
second1596
suffrage1614
to wait on ——1639
subjoin1810
suffrage1838
a1439 J. Lydgate Fall of Princes (Bodl. 263) i. 2609 God forbeede..That any man sholde off Mynos reede How he supported so venymous a deede.
a1500 (c1477) T. Norton Ordinal of Alchemy (BL Add.) (1975) l. 538 (MED) With al this he lyve a rightful lyfe, Falshode subduyng, support no synful stryfe.
1563 R. Reynolds Foundacion of Rhetorike f. 61v The malifactour hath no excuse,..the accuser by juste Lawe pleateth, when the law is thereby supported and saved.
1638 W. Chillingworth Relig. Protestants iv. §16. 198 The Divels instrument to support errours, and superstitions.
1682 T. D'Urfey Butler's Ghost 64 And what if Learn'd Doctoro has, To nervate and support the Cause, Rais'd doubts and fears.
1713 J. Addison Cato i. i To form new battles, and support his crimes.
1748 Ld. Hardwicke in Collectanea Juridica (1791) 383 The recovery suffered by him was before the debts were paid,..and consequently he could not make a good tenant to the præcipe to support his recovery.
1766 Ld. Kames Remarkable Decisions Court of Session 1730–52 45 It is the genius of law to support deeds, as far as they can be supported.
1800 A. Addison Rep. Cases Pennsylvania 11 The report..did not pursue the submission and so could not be supported.
1882 C. Pebody Eng. Journalism xx. 148 That he should bring out an evening paper to support the cause of the Throne.
1902 G. S. Whitmore Last Maori War iii. 28 I..had resumed my seat in the Legislative Council, and was doing what I could to support the Government in taking effectual steps to reinforce the troops.
1951 H. S. Truman Addr. 11 Apr. in R. H. Rovere & A. M. Schlesinger Gen. MacArthur & President Truman (1992) 264 Most people in this country..warmly supported the decision of the Government to help the Republic of Korea against the Communist aggressors.
2004 Week 25 Sept. 6/1 He didn't bother to vote last week, and has let it be known that he doesn't support the Bill.
d. transitive. (a) To add to as an enhancement, reinforce, supplement; †(b) to intensify, as by contrast (obsolete rare).
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > quantity > increase in quantity, amount, or degree > [verb (transitive)] > increase the intensity of
multiplya1398
sharpenc1450
heighten1523
height1528
strengthen1546
aggravate1549
enhance1559
intend1603
enrich1620
re-enforce1625
wheel1632
reinforce1660
support1691
richen1795
to give a weight to1796
intensify1817
exalt1850
intensate1856
to step up1920
to hot up1937
ramp1981
the mind > attention and judgement > testing > attestation, witness, evidence > attest, bear witness [verb (transitive)] > support, corroborate
fasteneOE
i-sothea925
sustainc1325
witness1362
approvec1380
confirmc1384
affirma1393
justifya1393
to bear outa1475
corrobore1485
uphold1485
nourisha1522
underpinc1522
to countenance outa1529
favoura1530
soothe1544
strengthen1548
comfort1593
second1596
accredit1598
evidencea1601
warrantise1600
compact1608
back1612
thickena1616
accreditate1654
shoulder1674
support1691
corroborate1706
carry1835
to give (also lend) colour1921
1691 Secret Hist. of Duke of Alançon & Queen Elizabeth 27 The Duke was..Handsome, Well-shap'd, Gallant, and Magnificent: These Qualities were supported by that Behaviour, and those charming Manners, which distinguish the Princes of France from all others.
1720 J. Ozell et al. tr. R. A. de Vertot Hist. Revol. Rom. Republic II. viii. 28 These Advantages in Tiberius, were supported by a noble Air, an engaging Countenance [etc.].
1778 J. Reynolds Disc. Royal Acad. (1876) viii. 453 That light is to be supported by sufficient shadow.
1820 La Belle Assemblée May 203/2 These rare qualities, supported by the coolest intrepidity, he possessed.
1904 Strand Mag. Jan. 32 /2 Ascendency could be maintained as completely and far more pleasantly by force of character combined with wit and good-humour than by force of character supported by aggressive arrogance alone.
1931 J. Jastrow in E. M. East Biol. in Human Affairs iii. 81 We all grow mentally, and perform more or less successfully, by virtue of the special abilities supported by the general level of our intelligence.
2002 S. R. Krause Liberalism with Honor v. 169 These qualities supported his extraordinary capacity for political agency.
3.
a. transitive. To bear all or part of the weight of (something separate); to hold or prop up; to keep from falling or sinking. Cf. sense 10a.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > relative position > support > [verb (transitive)]
to bear upeOE
underbearc950
bearOE
holdc1000
weighc1200
to hold up1297
upholda1300
sustainc1330
undersetc1330
comforta1382
underbear1382
upbear1390
sustaina1398
upkeepc1412
carrya1425
supporta1425
chargea1500
convey1514
avoke1529
confirm1542
stay1548
to carry up1570
bolster1581
lift1590
upstay1590
atlas1593
sustent1605
statuminatea1628
firm1646
appui1656
establish1664
shoulder1674
to keep up1681
upheave1729
withhold1769
a1425 (a1396) R. Maidstone Paraphr. Seven Penitential Psalms (BL Add. 39574) l. 214 in M. Day Wheatley MS (1921) 28 (MED) I wexe weyk as is the wonde, Bot Lord..Supporte thi man that may not stonde.
c1500 (?a1475) Assembly of Gods (1896) l. 1528 Next whom stood Moyses,..Aaron & Vrre, hys armes supportyng.
1548 Hall's Vnion: Henry VII f. liiiv Next after folowed the lady Cicile suster to ye quene, supporting the treyne of the spouse.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Henry VI, Pt. 1 (1623) ii. v. 14 These Feet, whose strength-lesse stay is numme, (Vnable to support this Lumpe of Clay). View more context for this quotation
a1616 W. Shakespeare As you like It (1623) ii. vii. 203 Support him by the arme. View more context for this quotation
1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost ix. 427 Stooping to support Each Flour of slender stalk, whose head..Hung drooping unsustaind. View more context for this quotation
1710 D. Manley Mem. Europe I. iii. 376 My Hand unable to support the Pen, drops in perspective Extasies.
1786 J. Abercrombie Gardeners Daily Assistant 180 Rolling grass, trimming and supporting plants.
1832 Mrs. C. Gore Champion in F. M. Reynolds Keepsake for MDCCCXXXII 78 His daughters, the future queens of France and Scotland, supported her train of cloth of gold during the ceremony.
1862 M. E. Braddon Lady Audley's Secret II. xiii. 284 Her perfect chin supported by her hand.
1885 ‘Mrs. Alexander’ At Bay vi. 92 As he supported his friend's unsteady steps.
1900 P. Mackie Georgian Actress viii. 141 A fair little page supported her train.
1976 R. Telander Heaven is Playground 150 I worried that some day his threadlike neck would no longer support his head and the entire affair would simply wilt on his shoulders like a bloated sunflower.
2009 C. Oxlade Trucks Inside & Out 10 Each wheel is attached to the chassis by an arm that lets it move up and down. Springs on each arm support the chassis.
b. transitive. Heraldry. In passive. To be flanked by the specified supporters (see supporter n. 4). Cf. sense 9b.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > indication > insignia > heraldic devices collective > extra-scutal devices > adorn with extra-scutal devices [verb (transitive)]
support1548
timbre1606
1548 Hall's Vnion: Henry VIII f. clxvi In the toppe of the Moulberie tree stode the armes of Fraunce within a garter. This fountaine was all of white Marble grauen & chased, the bases of the same were balles of golde supported by rampyng beastes.
1562 G. Legh Accedens of Armory 88 b Supported with a Mantiger Argent..and a wiuerne Or.
1610 J. Guillim Display of Heraldrie vi. vii. 286 [A shield] Supported by a Lion Rampand, gardant..and an Vnicorne.
1677 F. Sandford Geneal. Hist. Kings Eng. v. v. 385 And supported by the white Lyon of March on the right side, and on the left with a Greyhound, accolled and chained.
1722 A. Nisbet Syst. Heraldry I. ii. ix. 434 Supported by two Ratch Hounds Sable.
a1767 W. Macfarlane Geneal. Coll. (1900) II. 306 Three Wolves Heads erased Supported by two Ratch hounds.
1830 T. Robson Brit. Herald I. 71/1 The shield supported by a ram behind, in full aspect.
1864 C. Boutell Heraldry Hist. & Pop. (ed. 3) xix. 296 Each shield..is supported by figures of angels.
a1929 T. F. Tout Chapters Admin. Hist. Mediaeval Eng. (1930) V. xvi. 142 The arms of France and England, quarterly, were surmounted by an open crown and supported by two lions couchant.
2007 B. E. Lacey From Sacred to Secular 181/2 Designed by William Barton, it [sc. a seal] consisted of a heraldic shield supported by the genius of America and an American soldier.
c. transitive. To bear or hold up without giving way, sustain (a particular weight).
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > relative position > support > [verb (transitive)] > a weight or pressure (of so much)
bearOE
sustainc1405
support1578
1578 W. Bourne Treasure for Traueilers iv. x. 19 Mastes being massy, and not hollow, are but litle lighter then water, so that .20. tunnes waight of them, wyll not support vp two tunnes.
1581 R. Mulcaster Positions xx. 85 Thighes..both moue the legges, and support all the whole weight of the bodie aboue.
1648 Bp. J. Wilkins Math. Magick i. vi. 40 The power at C, which will be able to support the weight D, must bear the same proportion unto it, as AB, doth to AC.
1697 J. Potter Archæologiæ Græcæ I. i. viii. 43 Too weak to support the vast weight of thronging Multitudes.
1726 G. Leoni tr. L. B. Alberti Architecture II. viii. vii. 69/2 The Wall ought to be allowed a due Thickness for the supporting such a weight.
1771 A. Young Farmer's Tour E. Eng. II. 530 The whole weight of the draft of the plough is supported by the thill-horse.
1815 J. Smith Panorama Sci. & Art II. 185 A piece of iron, the weight of which is rather more than a given magnet will support.
1831 D. Brewster Treat. Optics x. 93 An artificial horse-shoe loadstone, which carried 13½ oz.,..at last supported 31 oz., by continuing it in the sun's light.
1870 Spons' Dict. Engin. II. 721 A temporary platform must next be suspended below the level of the lower chords, strong enough to support 1 ton a foot lineal.
1918 Pop. Sci. Monthly Oct. 74/1 When the platform..is lowered on the elevator, the total weight supported by these four columns of water is approximately 2,000 tons.
1951 Sport 16 Mar. 20/2 A big slashing powerful chestnut with powerful limbs to support his considerable weight, he is equally good in front and behind the saddle.
2010 Charleston (W. Va.) Gaz. (Nexis) 4 Apr. 1 b A rope thick enough to tow marine vessels—and thus, probably strong enough to support my heft—is secured to the upper trunk of a large oak.
d. transitive (reflexive). To hold oneself or itself up, maintain an upright position.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > relative position > posture > action of standing up or rising > rise [verb (reflexive)] > stand erect or upright
strut1581
support1597
1597 W. Shakespeare Richard II ii. ii. 83 Heere am I left to vnderprop his land, Who weake with age cannot support my selfe. View more context for this quotation
1664 J. Exton Maritime Dicæologie ii. xv. 137 The two Wings which Justice hath to support her self.
1688 R. Blackbourne Clitie iii. 187 I no longer cou'd support my self, but sunk down on the floor.
1728 J. Gay Beggar's Opera i. viii. 11 My head swims! I'm distracted! I can't support myself—Oh! (Faints.)
1752 Monthly Rev. Jan. 15 The same happiness..may be compared to the building of a vault, where each individual stone, would, of itself, fall to the ground; nor does the whole fabric support itself, but by the mutual assistance and combination of its correspondent parts.
1794 E. Ford Observ. Dis. Hip Joint v. xiv. 168 He can support himself, resting his weight on the sound limb, and on the toes of the other.
1842 S. Lover Handy Andy xxiv Andy, in his fall, endeavouring to support himself, caught at the suspended articles above him.
1897 F. B. Coffin Poems ii. 172 Unable to support himself, he was carried Forward in the arms of his friends to the Little rostrum at the end of the room.
1958 E. F. J. Payne tr. A. Schopenhauer World as Will I. iii. xliii. 214 The arch must support itself, and only through the medium of the pillars can it satisfy its tendency towards the earth.
2010 M. Gelbwasser Inconvenient xiv. 94 My mother gets up from the bench and leans against its back, I think as much to look casual as to support herself.
e. transitive. To give the support of one's arm to (a woman) for leaning on while walking or so as to walk arm-in-arm, as a gesture of courtesy; to take or have (a person) on one's arm. Now rare.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > relative position > support > [verb (transitive)] > specifically a person: keep from falling > by the arm
lend1598
support1604
oxtera1796
1604 J. Marston Malcontent iv. i. sig. F2 (stage direct.) Enter Mendoza supporting the Dutches: Guerrino, the Ladyes that are on the Stage rise: Ferrard Vshers in the Dutches.
1625 J. Mede Let. 25 June in H. Ellis Orig. Lett. Eng. Hist. (1824) 1st Ser. III. 201 The Queen..came out..supported by the Count de Tilliers her Lord Chamberlain.
a1640 P. Massinger City-Madam (1658) i. ii. 102 May I have the honor To support you Lady?
1768 L. Sterne Sentimental Journey II. 57 The Marquis..supported his lady—his eldest son supported his sister.
1798 Sporting Mag. Aug. 251/2 The Right Hon. Lady Petre, supported by Major Howard..came forward in the front of the line, and presented the colours to the Commanding Officer.
1816 W. Scott Old Mortality xv, in Tales of my Landlord 1st Ser. IV. 325 He offered his arm, and supported her into the small anti-room.
1911 G. Morris in Cosmopolitan Dec. 120/2 He supported her to his motor, a high-power runabout, and helped her in.
4. † c. transitive. gen. Scottish. To supply with something. With of the thing supplied. Cf. sense 5b. Obsolete.† f. intransitive. U.S. With on: to depend on for a livelihood, live on. Obsolete. rare.
a. transitive. To provide resources for the maintenance of, bear the expense of. Also: †to provide funds to meet (expenditure) (obsolete).
ΘΚΠ
society > trade and finance > payment > pay money or things [verb (transitive)] > bear or defray the cost of > of maintenance or upkeep
sustainc1350
maintain1389
support1431
1431 [implied in: 1431 in M. Sellers York Memorandum Bk. (1912) I. 63 The forfetes..shalbe employed..to the craft to the supporting of their pageant and othere chargez. (at supporting n. 1)].
1439 in F. J. Furnivall Fifty Earliest Eng. Wills (1882) 115 She beryng, yeldyng, payng and supportyng þerof þe ferme yerely, and oþer charges duryng her lyf.
1455 in Hist. MSS Comm.: Rep. MSS Var. Coll. (1907) IV. 203 in Parl. Papers (Cd. 3218) LXIV. 1 All charges and taxes..ye shall supporte and bere to your power.
1553 in J. B. Paul Accts. Treasurer Scotl. (1913) X. 175 To the..wardane of the Myddill Marchis, to support his expensis, xl li.
1585 T. Washington tr. N. de Nicolay Nauigations Turkie iii. vi. 79 All other thinges necessary for the supporting of his house & estate.
1662 B. Gerbier Brief Disc. Princ. Building 15 Ten Thousand Gilders per annum, to support and alter what he had Built amisse.
1691 T. Hale Acct. New Inventions p. lxvii No allowance of any Sallary to support their Office.
1705 tr. W. Bosman New Descr. Coast of Guinea xviii. 342 These..eat of the best that is to be gotten as long as they have any thing to support it.
1794 R. Southey Wat Tyler ii. iii Why is this ruinous poll-tax imposed, But to support your court's extravagance?
1817 Parl. Deb. 1st Ser. 801 That they supported the expenses out of the interest of the arrears which they withheld.
1818 W. Scott Heart of Mid-Lothian xiv, in Tales of my Landlord 2nd Ser. IV. 305 Allowances for the purpose of..supporting the hospitality of the representative of Majesty.
1849 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. I. iii. 336 This luxury was supported by a thriving trade.
1914 H. K. Motherwell Theatre of To-day xvi. 297 The knowledge that the city theatre is a theatre actually supported by the city is an influence which brings to it vastly greater loyalty than would be possible under a commercial system.
1963 New Scientist 18 July 113/2 All profits of the famous Carlsberg Brewery now go to support the arts and science.
2005 T. Umrigar Space between Us (2007) xvii. 236 My daughter's entire youth will go in supporting her father's drinking habit. Is that what you want?
b. To provide food or sustenance for; to keep alive. Also more generally: to provide with shelter and the necessaries of life.
(a) transitive. Of a resource or means. Cf. sense 8b.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > possession > supply > provide or supply (something) [verb (transitive)] > provide, afford, or yield
givec1200
providec1425
supporta1449
utter1547
yield1548
offer1550
afforda1568
servea1577
award1582
presenta1586
produce1585
deliver1605
officiate1667
furnish1754
to throw up1768
scale1853
a1449 J. Lydgate Minor Poems (1934) ii. 779 No Corn vp-growe nor greyn..Man to suppoorte.
1488 (c1478) Hary Actis & Deidis Schir William Wallace (Adv.) (1968–9) ii. l. 413 Syluir thai had, all with him has he tayne Him to support.
1658 R. Baxter Crucifying of World Pref. f. 2v Take it but as your daily bread to support you in his service.
1703 Universal Dict. at Buckhold (John) Rats, Mice, the Carcases of the Dead, &c. were seiz'd, as Food, to support the Living.
1791 J. Long Voy. Indian Interpreter 106 We had very little food, but fortunately killed three large bears in the middle of the portage, which supported us several days.
1842 M. R. Mitford in A. G. L'Estrange Life M. R. Mitford (1870) III. ix. 137 I must so far neglect my dear father as to gain time for writing what may support us.
1873 S. A. Foot Autobiogr. II. 358 An asparagus bed, 40 feet long and 30 feet wide, will give more good food every spring, and go farther to support a family, than a barrel of pork.
1912 L. H. Bailey Cycl. Amer. Agric. (ed. 4) II. v. 82 No more cattle is raised than can be supported by lowland meadows, swamps, &c. and the tops and blades of Indian corn.
1976 Rep. Nat. Acad. Sci. 1975–6 i. 34 There is not enough food in the sea to support the animals that live there.
2009 S. R. Bird Healing Grove ii. viii. 116 According to Green Belt Movement (GBM),..one acre planted with banana trees can support fifty people, whereas an acre planted with wheat supports only two people.
(b) transitive. Of a person, community, organization, etc.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > possession > supply > provide or supply (something) [verb (transitive)] > provide means of support for
findc1225
sustainc1300
found1377
keep1377
maintainc1405
sustent?a1425
support1493
uphold1546
subsist1547
escota1616
fend1637
aliment1660
run1871
grub-stake1879
1493 (c1410) Dives & Pauper (Pynson) iv. i. sig. lvii v/1 We ben bounden to..supporte them in their age and feblenesse, as they supportyd vs in oure youthe, and holpe vs..whan we coude nat ne might nat help oure self.
1535 W. Stewart tr. H. Boethius Bk. Cron. Scotl. (1858) III. 476 Wes nane that tyme that durst so hardy be..to mak him remeid, Or him support with ane byte of gra breid.
1562 Aberd. Kirk Session Rec. (Spalding Club) 7 Gif thai support nocht thair awin fader and moder.
1650 O. Cromwell Let. 9 Sept. in Writings & Speeches (1939) (modernized text) II. 335 The ministers of England are supported, and have liberty to preach the Gospel.
1674 A. Cooper Let. 23 May in L. Cheves Shaftesbury Papers (2000) 445 Wee doe not see what can become of the poore people..that have noe stocks unlesse they will become leetmen to some that are able to support and supplye them.
1782 H. Walpole Vertue's Anecd. Painting (ed. 3) V. 227 By which community..he had been supported, after he became incapable of business.
1806 J. Lingard Antiq. Anglo-Saxon Church II. xi. 225 During the winter, [they] were supported at the expence of the inhabitants.
1879 Hist. McLean County, Illinois 870 He was the oldest son, and for several years supported his mother, three brothers and three sisters, and his mother until her decease.
1933 C. S. Braden Mod. Tendencies World Relig. iv. 148 She was an ignorant rag-gatherer, left a widow with eight children to support.
1971 D. J. Rothman Discov. of Asylum ii. 31 The colonists normally supported the poor in community households, not in separate institutions.
2009 E. J. Esteban Work of Children ii. 27 In a free market economy and consumer society like the United States, what it means to earn a living and support a family in the twenty-first century is far removed from what it may have meant to parents in an agricultural economy of centuries past.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > possession > supply > provide or supply (something) [verb (transitive)] > provide or supply (a person or thing) with anything
feather?c1225
serve?c1225
astore1297
purveya1325
purveyc1325
warnishc1330
supply1384
bego1393
garnish?a1400
stuff14..
instore1432
relievec1480
providec1485
appurvey1487
support?1507
furnishc1515
repair1518
supply1529
speed1531
help (a person) to (also with)1569
sort1598
suffice1600
enduea1616
starta1640
employ1690
find1713
to fix out1725
issue1737
service1969
?1507 W. Dunbar Tua Mariit Wemen (Rouen) in Poems (1998) I. 53 I haue ane secrete serwand..That me supportis of sic nedis.
a1600 R. Lindsay Hist. & Cron. Scotl. (1899) I. 332 He could on no wyse support him of his desyre nether witht artaillʒe pulder nor bullattis.
1632 W. Lithgow Totall Disc. Trav. i. 25 This Prouince is mainely watered..with stately Po... The Riuers Ladishe, Montanello, Della Guarda, and other forcible streames supporting the shoulders of it.
d. transitive. To sustain or prolong (life or strength); to maintain the health or function of (a person, organ of the body, etc.). Also: †to keep up the strength of (a sick person) (obsolete). Cf. sense 8b.See also to support nature at nature n. 4c.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > safety > protection or defence > preservation from injury or destruction > preserve from injury or destruction [verb (transitive)] > preserve in existence or maintain > specifically a person or vital functions
support?1551
entertain1559
?1551 H. Wingfield Compend. or Shorte Treat. i. sig. C.vij That same quicke and liuelye power in our bodyes which is called lyfe, supported by naturall heat and moysture, liueth and dwelleth in the body.
1565 B. Googe tr. ‘M. Palingenius’ Zodiake of Life (new ed.) vii. sig. Yv Bloud or other humor hote thorowout all the members fumes Doth lyfe support and body feedes.
1611 J. Davies Scourge Folly cxx. 58 Yet sith I am the Moity of my wife And one selfe Purse supporteth eithers life, I must confesse I am the better for you.
1643 W. Prynne Soveraigne Power Parl. ii. 32 They have beene shut up in prisons and dungeons..allowed onely a poore pittance of Adams Ale, and scarce a penny bread a day to support their lives.
1705 F. Fuller Medicina Gymnastica 115 A Gentleman..found that Riding supported him as much, as the Change of Air.
1786 J. Hunter Treat. Venereal Dis. vi. iii. 530 The patient must be supported.
1823 in J. F. Allen Pract. Treat. Culture & Treatm. Grape Vine (1848) 152 Among the manures found of great avail in supporting or recovering the fertility of vines, may be reckoned rabbit's dung, duck's dung, [etc.].
1870 Glasgow Med. Jrnl. 2 486 Every effort should be made..to support the patient's strength, by the frequent and liberal administration of the stronger stimulants.
1912 R. Guiteras Urology I. xxiv. 452 The aromatic spirits of ammonia are very useful, and it may be well to support the heart with injections of digitoxin, 1/ 100 grain; camphor, 11/ 2 grain in oil; [etc.].
1989 J. Cornwall Just for Rec. 159 High technology medicine and specialist services... help to extend and support lives.
2009 D. Shannon et al. in J. D. Bisognano et al. Man. Heart Failure Managem. ix. 123 The exciting opportunity of potentially being able to support and recover myocardial function in chronic heart failure patients.
e. transitive. Law. Of an estate: to have surplus to provide for (a remainder) when a prior interest ends.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > quantity > sufficient quantity, amount, or degree > be sufficient for [verb (transitive)] > of an estate for a remainder
support1662
1662 H. B. Plowdens Quæries 161 The Lease for yeares was no severance of the Jointure, neither could it support the contingent remainder.
1694 in W. Salkeld Reports (1721) 576 The contingent Remainder to him was not discharged by the vesting in the Crown..because of the Wife's Estate, which is sufficient to support it.
1766 W. Blackstone Comm. Laws Eng. II. xi. 166 A lease at will is not held to be such a particular estate, as will support a remainder over.
1772 C. Fearne Ess. Learning Contingent Remainders (1791) 424 It was agreed that such limitation was void as a contingent remainder, because there was no freehold to support it.
1851 Harper's Mag. June 109/2 A laugh without a joke is..like a contingent remainder without any particular estate to support it.
1909 W. L. Clark Elem. Law ii. xv. 261 B's estate is, in its relation to the remainder, a particular estate, which is said to support the remainder, for the remainder could not exist without it.
1983 L. Bonfield Marriage Settlements, 1601–1740 ii. 27 By far the most important was that the estate which supported a contingent remainder must be a freehold interest.
2009 Finals: Prop. (Kaplan PMBR) (ed. 2) 10 At common law a particular estate which preceded and supported a remainder had to be a freehold estate.
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > source or principle of life > [verb (intransitive)] > sustain life
liveeOE
subsist1602
to struggle for existence1849
support1869
1869 Harper's Mag. Aug. 442/1 We have plenty of property, he'll have that to support on in his preachin'.
5.
a. transitive. To make good, repair (a deficiency).
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > amending > put right [verb (transitive)] > deficiency
supportc1449
redress1603
c1449 [implied in: R. Pecock Repressor (1860) 338 The endewing ȝouun to the brigge of Londoun into the supporting of his contynuel appeiring [= impairing].].
a1513 W. Dunbar Poems (1998) I. 158 Ȝe..Supportand faltis with ȝour supple.
?1566–7 G. Buchanan Opinion Reformation Univ. St. Andros in Vernacular Writings (1892) 11 The principal sal support the defectis of absens of the public reidar and regentis.
1684 R. Waller tr. Ess. Nat. Exper. Acad. del Cimento Ep. Ded, sig. a2 Some little thing presents it self to manifest our grateful observance; which is the onely joy wherewith we support our Deficiency.
1742 W. Ellis Timber-tree Improved (ed. 3) II. 23 Lopping off their [sc. trees'] Heads,..is of great importance, where it is practised to support a Defect, or remove a Curiosity.
1792 J. Stonhouse Thoughts on settling Permanent Leases with Landholders in Bengal, Bahar, & Orissa 29 Their Lands and their Rents being open to the Proposals of every Adventurer, and all Improvements made in them eagerly hunted after, either for the Purpose of immediate Increase, or to support some Deficiency.
1801 Monthly Visitor Nov. 259 Her delicate frame was little adapted to endure the fatigue of a hasty inconvenient journey, but..the exertions of her mind had supported the deficiencies of nature.
1875 M. M. Bigelow Leading Cases Law of Torts 139 Had the learned judge intimated an opinion that there was no evidence, the plaintiff might have attempted to support the defect.
1963 V. Grant Origin of Adaptations iii. x. 265 The population might not be able to support the loss by selection of a large number of individuals in each generation.
2008 C. Horvath in J. A. Cavagnaro Preclinical Safety Eval. Biopharmaceuticals iii. vii. 154 As was true for the alternative program to support the lack of a relevant species, the additional support required for changes to the route of administration, formulation, and cell line adds time and money to the preclinical program.
b. transitive. To fulfil, meet, satisfy (a need, requirement, etc.). Cf. sense 4c.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > possession > supply > provide or supply (something) [verb (transitive)] > supply (needs or wants)
furnish1496
supporta1500
beeta1522
sustain1539
nourish1568
to set forthc1610
sustenate1712
a1500 Lancelot of Laik (1870) l. 2320 And yhow, sir, richt hartly I exort In to this ned my myster to support.
1649 Bp. J. Taylor Great Exemplar iii. 131 Do thou by thy gracious intercession supply my ignorances and passionate desires, and imperfect choices, procuring and giving to me such returns of favour, which may support my needs, and serve the ends of religion.
1766 O. Goldsmith Vicar of Wakefield II. xii. 203 A bare competence shall be supplied, to support the wants of life, but not its follies.
1834 Amer. Q. Rev. June 405 It is a bold new emprise to reveal and employ the capabilities of this new region of mind to support the requirements of airy fiction.
1955 Pop. Mech. Feb. 119/1 A 16-square-mile area of worthless Arizona desert receives enough energy to support the current power needs of all the people of this country.
2000 A. Gaur Literacy & Politics of Writing (2003) i. 4 Nor are cave paintings inferior to the alphabet since they quite obviously effectively supported the needs of the cave dwellers.
6. † a. transitive (reflexive). To assert, maintain. Obsolete. rare.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > statement > assertion without proof > [verb (reflexive)] > claim, maintain, or profess
sayOE
showc1175
make?c1225
pretend1415
support?1471
?1471 W. Worcester in Paston Lett. & Papers (2004) II. 356 As I support me to alle the world, I put nevyr maner ne lyfelode of my maister Fastolf yn trouble.
b. transitive. To provide evidence or authority for, or corroboration of, (a statement, etc.); to bear out, substantiate.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > testing > attestation, witness, evidence > attest, bear witness [verb (transitive)] > furnish evidence, vouch for
verifyc1449
warrantc1480
able?1489
witness1526
support1581
license1694
vouch1755
1581 R. Mulcaster Positions vii. 51 Learned men hauing leasure at will,..haue mined out of the bowelles of antiquitie,..sometimes simply, and surmising but some such thing, by very light and slight coniectures: oftimes supported by bare guesse.
1604 T. Bilson Suruey Christs Sufferings 226 Let the words stand in their full strength;..they rather euert, then support your opinion.
1646 Sir T. Browne Pseudodoxia Epidemica 26 No farther to abet their opinions then as they are supported by solid reason. View more context for this quotation
1764 S. Foote Lyar ii. 30 Sir Ja... But, for the son, you never—M. Gr. Sat eyes upon him. Sir Ja. Really? M. Gr. Really. Sir Ja. Finely supported.
1782 J. Priestley Hist. Corruptions Christianity I. ii. 212 [This] is not at all supported by fact.
1817 W. Selwyn Abridgem. Law Nisi Prius (ed. 4) II. 962 To support an averment in a declaration on a policy of insurance on goods.
1856 J. A. Froude Hist. Eng. (1858) I. i. 14 The advocates of both [theories] can support their arguments with an appeal to experience.
1885 Law Times Rep. 53 478/1 The application was supported by an affidavit of the applicant.
1895 Law Times Rep. 73 701/2 The statute..does not seem..to support the assertions for which it was cited.
1913 E. C. Bentley Trent's Last Case viii. 171 The external appearance of the wound, he said, did not support the hypothesis of its being self-inflicted.
1953 Life 7 Sept. 54/2 Could a single line of animals change so much over millions of years that they would ultimately bear no resemblance to their progenitors? Darwin's answer was yes, and he supported it with a few facts and deductions embodying the essence of his evolutionary theory.
2000 Jrnl. Insect Physiol. 46 1370/2 Only indirect evidence is available to support this theory.
c. transitive. To write or speak in favour of (a proposition); to assert or contend for the truth of (an opinion, etc.); to express approval of. Cf. sense 2c.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > easiness > aid, help, or assistance > support > support or backing > support, side with, or back [verb (transitive)] > second or speak in favour of
support1583
second1597
1583 W. Rainolds Refut. Sundry Reprehensions xii. 299 Whether we, I say, haue not great reason to support our opinion which here we defend.
1607 E. Grimeston tr. Gen. Inuentorie Hist. France ii. 944 The Empresse his Mother, (who during his Delights and Dissolutions held the reyns of Gouernment) did alwayes..support the worst Councells and Resolutions.
1693 N. Tate tr. P. Coste Life Lewis Bourbon iii. 194 Whether this Proposal were not sufficiently supported, or whether they were afraid of exposing the person of the King the Court resolv'd to quit Paris.
1736 Gentleman's Mag. Dec. 718/1 This Proposition was supported and inforced by the D—ke of A—le.
1757 Test 14 May 153 A proposal was made at the said meeting, which you concurred with and supported.
1860 J. Tyndall Glaciers of Alps ii. xiii. 296 M. Agassiz supported this theory for a time.
1910 Encycl. Brit. I. 266/1 The proposition was supported by..the..minister of the interior, and accordingly the necessary arrangements were speedily effected.
1960 R. A. Webster Cross & Fasces i. ii. 30 When a cardinal of the Roman Curia, Vannutelli,..publicly supported the war, he was sharply rebuked.
1973 R. Hiscocks Security Council (1974) ii. 31 He [sc. Sir Edward Grey] and the prime minister, H. H. Asquith, publicly supported the idea of a League of Nations.
2007 in A. MacLaran et al. Empowering Communities in Disadvantaged Urban Areas v. 62 Every party and every councillor in the chamber supported the motion.
d. transitive. To back up in a statement or an opinion; to write or speak in favour of the proposition or opinion of.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > easiness > aid, help, or assistance > support > support or backing > support, side with, or back [verb (transitive)] > in a statement or opinion
support1601
1601 J. Deacon & J. Walker Dialogicall Disc. Spirits & Diuels 105 I haue reasons and authorities both support me therein.
1686 W. Hopkins tr. Ratramnus Body & Bl. (1688) Dissert. iv. 65 (note) Bertram..determining the Sacramental change to be Figuratively wrought, not corporally,..and supporting him~self by the Testimony of St. Augustine.
1744 M. Akenside Pleasures Imagination Design ⁋7 The authority of Virgil..will best support him in this particular.
1771 ‘Junius’ Stat Nominis Umbra (1772) II. xlvi. 171 But Junius has a great authority to support him, which..I accidentally met with this morning in the course of my reading.
1842 J. Bischoff Comprehensive Hist. Woollen Manuf. II. 105 Lord Wharncliffe..promised to support Lord Harewood when he presented the petition to the House of Lords.
1846 Southern & Western Literary Messenger & Rev. 12 32/2 The young Ovidian finds that he can have recourse to established rules and admitted authority to support him in his pronunciation.
a1853 W. W. Warren Hist. Ojibways xvii, in Coll. Minnesota Hist. Soc. (1885) V. 215 An Indian challenged me for an Englishman, and his companions supported him, saying that I looked very like one.
1925 R. C. De Wolf Outl. Copyright Law ix. 164 The United States Supreme Court supported the opinion of the district court as to the number of infringements.
1938 in T. Abel Why Hitler came into Power iii. ix. 231 The participants in the meeting supported the speaker, and all eyes were directed to me.
1958 A. L. Epstein Politics in Urban Afr. Community v. 190 One of them asked: ‘Do you think the District Commissioner's meeting is more important than our Union?’..Another immediately supported him by saying that on the mine they had the Union, they wanted no other organization.
1998 B. Homer Amer. Liaison 456 Probably they would have supported him in his opinion that the postscript was, in fact, ‘but a doubtful improvement of the book’.
7.
a. transitive. To keep (a person, the mind, etc.) from negative thoughts or submission; to give courage, confidence, or power of endurance to. Often in religious contexts.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > courage > encouragement > encourage or embolden [verb (transitive)]
hearteOE
bieldc897
hardenc1175
elnea1225
hardyc1225
boldc1275
hardishc1325
endurec1384
assurec1386
emboldc1400
recomfortc1405
enharda1450
support1479
enhardy1483
animatec1487
encourage1490
emboldishc1503
hearten1524
bolden1526
spright1531
raise1533
accourage1534
enheart1545
to hearten on1555
hearten?1556
alacriate1560
bespirit1574
bebrave1576
to put in heart1579
to hearten up1580
embolden1583
bravea1593
enhearten1610
inspiritc1610
rehearten1611
blood1622
mana1625
valiant1628
flush1633
firm1639
buoy1645
embrave1648
reinhearten1652
reanimate1655
reinspirit1660
to give mettle to1689
warm1697
to lift (up) a person's spirits1711
reman1715
to make a man of1722
respirit1725
elate1726
to cocker up1762
enharden1779
nerve1799
boost1815
brace1816
high-mettle1831
braven1865
brazen1884
the world > action or operation > easiness > aid, help, or assistance > promotion or help forward > promote or help forward (a person, plan, etc.) [verb (transitive)]
furtherc888
fremeOE
filsenc1175
fosterc1175
speeda1240
theec1250
advancec1300
upraisea1340
increasec1380
forthbearc1400
exploit?a1439
aid1502
to set forward(s)1530
farther1570
facilite1585
to set forthward1588
forward1598
facilitate1599
accommodate1611
succeed1613
bespeed1615
to set (a person) on (also upon) his (also her, etc.) legs1632
subserve1645
push1758
support1779
leg up1817
1479 Earl Rivers in tr. Cordyal (Caxton) Pref. With our good desertes supported and holpen by his moost digne mercy and grace we be enabled to be the children of euerlestyng saluacion.
?1504 W. Atkinson tr. Thomas à Kempis Ful Treat. Imytacyon Cryste (Pynson) ii. ix. sig. Ev That soule rydethe fulle pleasauntely whom the grace of our lorde supporteth and bereth vp.
1560 A. L. tr. J. Calvin Serm. Songe Ezechias ii. 52 We praye God to supporte vs, and to geue vs leisure to blesse his name and to reioyse in him.
1611 Bible (King James) 1 Esdras viii. 52 That the power of the Lord our God, should be with them that seeke him, to support them in all wayes. View more context for this quotation
1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost xii. 496 With inward consolations recompenc't, And oft supported so as shall amaze Thir proudest persecuters. View more context for this quotation
a1674 J. Milton To C. Skinner upon his Blindness in Lett. State (1694) p. xlviii What supports me, dost thou ask? The Conscience, Friend, to have lost them over ply'd In Liberties Defence.
1719 I. Watts Psalms of David 383 The Lord supports the sinking mind.
1779 Mirror No. 63. ⁋9 He was supported by the conscious admiration of those countrymen whom he had left.
1818 S. E. Ferrier Marriage iii. ix. 134 They are Wonderfully supported and Behave with Astonishing firmness.
1838 E. Bulwer-Lytton Leila iv. iv. 191 ‘Support me, O Redeemer!’ she murmured.
1922 E. von Arnim Enchanted April (1989) 192 In Kate she would have a support. Kate, without intruding on her sitting-room,..would be there at meals to support her.
2010 P. N. Dutes Dynamic Power through Prayer 299 Lord please support me I'm sinking fast.
b. transitive (reflexive). To remain stoical or cheerful in the face of adversity, to bear up. Also †intransitive (obsolete rare). Now somewhat archaic. Cf. sense 1b.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > calmness > patience > be patient [verb (reflexive)]
support1591
patience1605
to comport with1675
1591 R. Robinson tr. V. Strigel Proc. Harmonie King Davids Harpe 132 This my promise touching the Mediator, shall remaine firme and stablished: and therefore doo thou by fayth embrace the same, and with thys consolation support thy selfe.
1638 F. Junius Painting of Ancients 192 Though a man bee nev[e]r so shamefaced, yet may he support himselfe by the helpe of a good conscience.
1698 Fatal Discov. ii. 11 I find my courage fail me, and I fear I shan't so well support my self as not to want your aide.
1766 T. Amory Life John Buncle II. x. 338 As to myself..I brought a consumption into the world with me, and by art have supported under it.
1777 S. Johnson Let. 22 Oct. (1992) III. 86 Against a blow so sudden..I wonder that she supports herself.
1805 K. Walpole Let. 7 Nov. in G. P. B. Naish Nelson's Lett. to his Wife (1958) vii. 606 I beg of you to tell me how she supports herself under the shock of Lord Nelson's death.
1851 W. Hosmer Young Lady's Bk. (1854) iv. 137 Let the female see things as they are,..and she will support herself under trials with all the dignity of intelligence and virtue.
1913 T. Whitelaw Jehovah-Jesus ii. 26 The trial must have been severe almost beyond endurance, enough to make his [sc. Abraham's] spirit reel. How he was able to support himself under it the writer to the Hebrews tells us.
1957 G. R. Cragg Puritanism in Period of Great Persecution iii. 86 The Puritan..supported himself under the ordeal by laying hold of the full range of spiritual resources open to him.
8.
a. transitive. To maintain unimpaired, preserve from decay or depreciation.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > safety > protection or defence > preservation from injury or destruction > preserve from injury or destruction [verb (transitive)] > preserve from decay, loss, or destruction
savea1325
servea1375
conservea1413
observe?1440
support1495
powder1530
reserve1555
incorrupt1890
1495 Rolls of Parl.: Henry VII (Electronic ed.) Parl. Oct. 1495 §51. m. 30 The wele of the seid citie hath and shuld be mayntened, supported and contynued.
?1521 A. Barclay Bk. Codrus & Mynalcas sig. Cvj Supportyng iustyce, concorde and equyte.
1526 W. Bonde Pylgrimage of Perfection ii. sig. Hviiiv Some benefytes supporteth the same [lyfe of grace in our soules].
1608 W. Shakespeare King Lear iv. 259 Men..that..in the most exact regard, support the worships of their name. View more context for this quotation
a1659 T. Ball Life Preston (1885) 163 The Dr. used all his friends for to support & keepe in power this statute.
1710 H. Prideaux Orig. & Right Tithes i. 5 His Worship be provided for with such a part of our substance, as may be sufficient to support it.
1797 Ld. Nelson 8 Sept. in Dispatches & Lett. (1845) II. 442 I should be an ingrate was I not on every occasion to support his honour and glory at all personal risk.
1802 C. James New Mil. Dict. (at cited word) To support the ancient character of the corps.
1891 F. W. Farrar Darkness & Dawn II. xlv. 112 The brave and honest Corbulo, who had supported the fame of Roman courage on so many a hard-fought field.
1950 ABA Jrnl. Dec. 1045/1 Promptly upon the announcement of that plan, Hal Stinchfield issued the call to arms, to support the integrity of our judicial system.
2010 T. Bunzel Tools of Engagement iii. 42 Monitoring all of the organization's social media efforts to ensure that they all..support its reputation.
b. transitive. To maintain in being or in action; to keep up, keep going; to provide the necessary material for. Also intransitive with object implied. Cf. senses 2c, 4, 11.
ΘΚΠ
the world > time > change > absence of change, changelessness > maintaining state or condition > maintain [verb (transitive)]
i-haldOE
sustainc1300
keepc1315
maintainc1390
conservea1425
continuec1460
entertain1490
persevere1502
uphold?1523
containa1538
petrifya1631
conservate1647
to keep on1669
to keep up1670
preserve1677
support1696
fix1712
ossify1800
fossilize1848
1696 V. Alsop Decus & Tutamen 118 A heavenly Mind, a heavenly Frame of Heart would support a heavenly Conversation.
1738 J. Swift Compl. Coll. Genteel Conversat. p. xii The genuine Productions of superior Wits, to embellish and support Conversation.
1766 O. Goldsmith Vicar of Wakefield I. xvii. 170 She had been for some time supporting a fictitious gayety.
1778 F. Burney Evelina III. ii. 23 I supported no part in the conversation.
1778 F. Burney Evelina III. xv. 156 I..wished Lord Orville had supported his own reserve, and suffered me to support mine.
1785 H. Swinburne Trav. in Two Sicilies II. xliv. 307 The conversation..was well supported till mid~night.
1812 H. Davy Elements Chem. Philos. 3 A species of air that supports flame in a superior degree.
1826 D. Booth Art of Brewing (ed. 2) 31 Keeping a quantity of this fermentable matter unattenuated, in order to support the natural consumption.
1828 E. Bulwer-Lytton Pelham III. iv. 73 If it can create, can it not also support?
1838 E. Bulwer-Lytton Alice III. viii. vii. 83 Fear not..support your courage—nothing shall harm you.
1856 J. A. Froude Hist. Eng. II. viii. 252 The earth will not support human life uncultivated.
1875 W. S. Jevons Money (1878) 254 A town which is able to support two banks.
1934 N. R. Jones in Amazing Stories Sept. 13/2 Both supported life—Mars' meager plant and animal life contrasting strangely with the luxuriant vegetation and teeming life..of the Venerian globe.
1979 M. Hastings Bomber Command v. 126 Bomber Command gained little..because there was a constant drain of squadrons removed to Coastal Command to support the Battle of the Atlantic.
2008 Nature of Scotl. Summer 47/2 Pearl mussels used to support a major industry in Scotland worth hundreds of jobs.
c. transitive. To preserve (an undertaking) from failure; to contribute to the success of. Also in Economics and Finance: (a) to maintain the market level of (a price, etc.); (b) (of specie) to guarantee the convertibility of (a paper currency).Quot. 1696 may represent sense 2c or 8b.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > easiness > aid, help, or assistance > support > [verb (transitive)] > the success or value of
subserve1654
support1705
society > trade and finance > money > value of money > [verb (transitive)] > guarantee
support1810
1696 tr. J. Abbadie Hist. Conspiracy against King 30 To oblige the Scotch to support his falling Interest, he assur'd 'em, That they and their Posterity shou'd see the Effect of the Promises which he had so often made 'em.]
1705 J. Law Money & Trade Considered 58 So long as they who did Subscribe can support the Bank upon the Terms of the Act of Parliament, none will pretend to any share in it.
a1722 J. Toland Coll. Several Pieces (1726) I. 434 The mony arising by this Subscription, he did not think fit to lend..but he proposed to employ it in buying of stock, to support the price, which begun to sink.
1781 R. B. Sheridan Critic i. i On the first night of a new piece they always fill the house with orders to support it.
1810 J. Hill Inq. Present High Price Gold Bullion Bristol Sel. Pamphlets 25 They would be desirous to replenish and support their stock of specie.
1811 Parl. Deb. (1812) 1st Ser. 20 1105 There was a prejudice in favour of guineas over Bank notes, and the present measure, under pretence of supporting Bank notes, was brought in, the direct tendency of which must be to injure public confidence, and to endanger, if not destroy, the public credit of the country.
1855 Poultry Chron. 3 551 For wheat the quotations of Monday were barely supported.
1868 J. E. T. Rogers Man. Polit. Econ. iv. 38 Great part of this [specie] is used to support the notes which circulate within the country.
1898 Westm. Gaz. 24 Oct. 9/3 Indian gold shares have been supported.
1939 L. Waight Hist. & Mechanism Exchange Equalisation Acct. iii. ix. 81 Nothing would have suited better the interests of the speculator than a disclosure of the method of working and the assets of the E.E.A., especially if such information disclosed a weakness—which must have been a real one in the first few months of its life when it had little gold available with which to support sterling in case of need.
1973 Great Alaska Earthquake 1964: Engin. (National Res. Council (U.S.) Comm. on Alaska Earthquake) 621/2 The dock's location with regard to the dredged fill area to the north, placed to support industry and fishery-oriented commercial enterprises.
1994 C. Genzberger Japan Bus. xviii. 253/2 Expressions of concern about the falling stock market by the Hosokawa government—in the past a signal that the government was preparing to support prices—were enough to cause the market to recover briefly.
2009 H. Kaufman Road to Financial Reformation ix. 109 Should an enemy seize London, and hence the specie supporting the credit of the Bank of England's notes, ‘confusion’ would reign.
d. transitive. Computing. Of a computer, operating system, etc.: to allow the use or operation with it of (a program, language, device, etc.).
ΘΚΠ
society > computing and information technology > [verb (transitive)] > support
support1966
1966 R. G. Loomis Design Study Graphics Support in Proc. SHARE Design Automation Workshop 9 The called subroutine would be able to..invoke internal device dependent subroutines which would have to be provided in the graphics support library for each device supported.
1981 Electronics 10 Mar. 165/1 Software supported by the operating system will remain compatible across the product line and across time.
1985 Pract. Computing June 83/3 Alas, the package is not converted to U.K. use and so does not support floating £ signs or European date formats.
1994 Network World 24 Oct. 28/2 The software supports the exchange of files not only over the Internet, but over a variety of value-added networks.
2010 Computer Weekly 23 Nov. 6/1 Most edge devices, such as laptops and mobile phones, now support IPv6.
9. To assist or reinforce in an action.
a. transitive. To assist by reinforcing in a battle, esp. by a second line of troops; to provide assistance to in a military, naval, or air force operation.
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > military operations > distribution of troops > [verb (transitive)] > support
relievec1425
support1531
second1588
third1602
1531 J. Bellenden tr. H. Boece Chron. Scotl. (1938) I. iv. viii. 154 Petulius..ruschit aboute þe Romanis, fechtand with ardent besynes, and supportit thame.
1533 J. Bellenden tr. Livy Hist. Rome (1901) I. 162 Mamilius..tuke certane manipillis of Latynis..and went fordwartis..to support the Tarquinis.
a1600 R. Lindsay Hist. & Cron. Scotl. (1899) II. 166 The quens brother come out..to the sie witht viij schipis to haue supportit the quene aganis the protestantis.
1607 E. Grimeston tr. Gen. Inuentorie Hist. France ii. 1004 There did two squadrons aduance to support them, eyther of them consisting of fifeteene Knights and fiue and twenty Souldiars.
1693 N. Tate tr. P. Coste Life Lewis Bourbon I. i. 20 They were to fight upon two Lines, supported by a Body of a Reserve.
1708 tr. Mem. Marquess de la Langallerie 204 They would make a Detachment of 15 English and Dutch Ships, supported by all the Fireships, with which they would make the Attack.
1753 R. Rolt Mem. Life J. Lindesay iii. i. 215 A detachment of grenadiers was transported upon radeaux to support the irregulars.
1795 R. Cumberland Arundel (ed. 3) II. xii. 40 I have an express this moment with an account of his having engaged two Spanish men of war with his single line of battle ship, supported by the young Earl of S. in a forty-four gun frigate.
1837 A. Alison Hist. Europe from French Revol. VI. l. 761 As Junot perceived that their attack did not at once prove successful, they were supported in the end by the whole reserve of infantry, under Kellerman.
1876 G. E. Voyle & G. de Saint-Clair-Stevenson Mil. Dict. (ed. 3) at Skirmishers To support them [sc. skirmishers] when weakened..is the duty of the supports.
1919 Pop. Sci. Monthly Oct. 47/2 The fighting pilots..supported the charging infantry by skimming over the ground and pouring a hail of machine-gun bullets on the enemy in his trenches.
1941 Life 26 May 72/2 Each group of nine was..supported by a group of nine Me. 110 fighters with single-seater Me. 109's or He. 113's circling high above.
1957 C. A. Macartney in J. O. Lindsay New Cambr. Mod. Hist. VII. xvii. 425 These landings were possible only because France permitted her Toulon fleet to support the Spanish fleet in covering the transports.
2010 S. Junger War ii. v. 141 Destined Company had mounted units scattered throughout the battalion firebases, and four of these trucks had taken up positions to support a foot patrol.
b. transitive. To occupy a position by the side of, with the object of giving assistance or encouragement. Hence: to assist by one's presence or attendance. Cf. sense 3b.Cf. also quot. 1429 at sense 2a.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > place > presence > be present at [verb (transitive)] > assist by one's presence
support1601
the world > action or operation > easiness > aid, help, or assistance > support > [verb (transitive)] > support by one's presence
bidec893
support1601
the world > action or operation > easiness > aid, help, or assistance > support > support or encouragement > support or encourage [verb (transitive)] > support by one's presence
to stand by ——OE
to stand besidec1440
support1601
the world > action or operation > easiness > aid, help, or assistance > aid, help, or assist [verb (transitive)] > help as subsidiary > act as assistant to
to hold a candle to another1550
second1588
associate1626
support1886
1601 W. Parry New Disc. Trauels Sir A. Sherley 37 Then followed the king himselfe... Next him came the Queene, supported on eyther side by two olde Ladies.
1626 in L. G. W. Legg Eng. Coron. Rec. (1901) 248 The King is to be supported by the Bishopps of Durham and Bathe.
1718 A. Thompson tr. Geoffrey of Monmouth Brit. Hist. ix. xiii. 302 He was conducted in great Pomp to the Metropolitan Church, being supported on each Side by two Archbishops.
1764 Scrutator 20 Dec. 225 He was supported on one side by a noble Earl, and on the other by one of the most profligate and abandon'd fellows, the world ever produced.
1840 Times 11 Feb. 5/1 The Bridegroom, His Royal Highness..Prince Albert..Supported by their Serene Highnesses [etc.].
1886 Manch. Examiner 14 Jan. 5/6 Mr. Gladstone was supported right and left by Lord Hartington and Sir William Harcourt.
1896 Pall Mall Mag. Jan. 105 The Viceroy and Vicereine stand before Tippoo's throne,..supported on either side by the leading officials.
1913 Times 7 Aug. 8/5 Sir W. Watson Cheyne, who presided, was supported by many highly distinguished surgeons.
1999 M. Paterniti in R. Sterling Adventure of Food i. 33 He was supported by two bodyguards.
c. transitive. To take a secondary role alongside (a leading performer) in a play, opera, ballet, film, etc. Usually in passive or as supporting adj. 6.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > performance arts > drama > acting > act [verb (transitive)] > support or assist another actor
support1779
to play up to ——1809
feed1929
1779 Lady's Mag. Suppl. 715/1 The whole entertainment finishes with Mr. Vernon's singing ‘Rule Britannia’, assisted by Mr. Caudry, and the chorus supported by most of the singing performers of the theatre.
1790 T. Wilkinson Mem. Own Life IV. 210 Mr. Holland started forth in the month of October,..in the character of Oroonoko, supported by Mrs. Cibber in Imoinda.
1830 London Lit. Gaz. 6 Mar. 160/2 The vocal and histrionic powers in the representation of this not less difficult than interesting rôle, only caused us to lament that she was not better supported in the piece.
1864 Musical World 21 May 321/1 (advt.) Principal Dancers Mdle. Catarina Beretta and Signor Ammaturo, supported by the Corps de Ballet.
1889 Harper's Mag. Nov. 871/1 As Ophelia,..she supported the elder Booth.
1925 E. Sherson London's Lost Theatres of 19th Cent. (1969) vii. 162 Halliday's ‘Great City’,..in which Mrs. Kendal had made her appearance in 1867, supported by a cast including names of many in small parts who became famous actors in later years.
1942 Billboard 8 Aug. 16/1 The Andrews Sisters, supported by Dick Rogers and orchestra, headlined ‘America's No. 1 Singing Trio’ capably proved their claim to top-ranking position.
1966 E. W. White Stravinsky ii. 468 It was danced by Suzanne Farrell and Jacques d'Amboise supported by a corps de ballet of six girls.
2002 J. K. Muir Horror Films of 1970s ii. 128/2 Moore is supported ably by the fetching Hildegard Neil, but this is one bizarre movie.
d. transitive. Sport. To be actively interested in the success of, be a supporter or follower of (a team, etc.). Cf. supporter n. 5b.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > sport > supporting > support [verb (transitive)]
support1843
follow1931
1843 [implied in: Daily National Intelligencer (Washington) 15 Apr. A special Turf Dinner has been given him, by the leading amateurs and supporters of the sport [sc. horse-racing].].
1861 G. Meredith Evan Harrington I. xiii. 260 The curate observed, that sound Churchmen unanimously supported the game [sc. cricket].
1890 Galveston (Texas) Daily News 11 May 4/2 Waco is supporting her team nicely, and they deserve it.
1952 J. Arlott Concerning Soccer viii. 122 The spectator has the loudest word; for the good of football he should support good football.
1962 K. Wolstenholme Bk. World Soccer 55/2 When you think of all that, what other football club is there worth supporting?
1979 E. John in K. Keegan Against the World x I've always supported England, I've stood on the terraces at Wembley, so what I relish now is the sheer luck of having the privilege to travel with the team.
1997 Independent (Nexis) 22 Feb. (Sport section) 28 Why shouldn't a kid from Peckham be allowed to support Manchester United rather than Millwall? They play better football.
e. transitive. Of a pop group or performer: to function as a secondary act to (another act) at a concert; spec. to precede (the main act). Cf. support band n. at support n. Compounds 3.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > music > performing music > perform (music) [verb (transitive)] > perform as support act
support1965
1965 Billboard 15 May 52/4 Canadian recording groups reaped valuable exposure appearing with the Stones, with RCA Victor's J. B. and the Playboys supporting them in Ottawa, Toronto and London.
1971 ZigZag Mar. Jeff Beck's Tridents used to support us at Eel Pie Island.
1993 Rolling Stone 8 July 10/3 We were supporting Dinosaur..at shows myself and other not-so-rich kids put on.
2000 A. Calcutt Brit Cult 304/2 Supporting Madness at an open-air concert at Finsbury Park in 1992, Morrissey was canned off stage after he appeared draped in a Union Jack.
10.
a. transitive. To constitute the lower part of (a structure); to sustain in position at a higher level; to have on it or them, or at the top. Cf. sense 3a.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > relative position > low position > put in low position [verb (transitive)] > have position under > constitute the base of
support1548
substrate1578
solea1643
floor1698
found1728
base1858
under-floor1884
1548 Hall's Vnion: Henry VIII f. clvi At the nether ende were two broade arches vpon thre Antike pillers all of gold, burnished swaged and grauen full of Gargills and Serpentes, supportyng the edifices.
1590 E. Spenser Faerie Queene ii. iii. sig. P2v Like two faire marble pillours..Which doe the temple of the Gods support.
1617 F. Moryson Itinerary i. 194 The second Bridge..is supported with pillars of wood.
1686 R. Plot Nat. Hist. Staffs. ix. 372 The whole [town-hall] being supported with a curious Portico of archwork.
1712 J. Henley tr. B. de Montfaucon Trav. Italy xi. 183 They say there are Brass or Copper cross Bars in the Nature of Lattices laid on the Foundation, which support the whole Frame.
1759 R. Brown Compl. Farmer 98 Let the board be a little supported by two ledges.
1796 W. Withering Arrangem. Brit. Plants (ed. 3) II. 337 Spokes of the umbel from 3 to 7, each supporting only 1 flower.
1824 W. C. Wentworth Statist. Acct. Brit. Settlements Australasia (ed. 3) I. 112 The soil changes to a thin layer of vegetable mould, resting on an aluminous, red, yellow, or blue clay,..and is itself supported by a substratum of aluminous schistus.
1842 J. C. Loudon Suburban Horticulturist 504 The floor of the pit may be supported on arches.
1863 C. Lyell Geol. Evid. Antiq. Man ii. 17 These [piles] have evidently once supported villages.
1907 F. P. Verney & M. M. Verney Mem. Verney Family 17th Cent. (ed. 2 reissued) I. 3 ‘Andirons’ in front to support the logs of wood.
1943 Pop. Mech. May 97/1 Turned from walnut or maple, the holder consists of a base supporting two half-round shells, which enclose the thread.
2005 G. C. Andrews Canad. Professional Engin. & Geoscience (ed. 3) iii. ix. 302 These four pillars supported the building in the middle of each of the four walls, rather than at the corners.
b. transitive. Heraldry. In passive. To have below it on a shield (see also quot. 1728). Now rare.In later use chiefly in dictionaries.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > indication > insignia > heraldic devices collective > charge: device on shield > place charge on [verb (transitive)] > place in higher position in field
support1562
enhance1864
1562 G. Legh Accedens of Armory i. i. 109 If a Pale be vpon a Lion, or any other beast,..he is debrused with a Pale. But if the beast be on the Pale, then that beast is supported of the same Pale.
1688 R. Holme Acad. Armory x. 104 He beareth Argent, a Cheveron reversed, Gules, Supported, or Sustained by an other, Or.
1728 E. Chambers Cycl. Supported, in Heraldry, a Term apply'd to the uppermost Quarters of a Shield, when divided into several Quarters; these seeming, as it were, supported or sustain'd by those below... The Chief is also said to be supported when it is of two Colours, and the upper Colour takes up two Thirds of it: In this Case it is supported by the Colour underneath.
1908 A. F. Pimbley Dict. Heraldry 60/2 Supported, applied to a bearing..that has another under it by way of support; as, a chief supported.
c. transitive. Philosophy. To be the bearer, substratum, or underlying foundation of (properties, qualities, etc.).
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > philosophy > metaphysics > [verb (transitive)] > be the subject or substratum of
support1631
1631 W. Twisse Discov. D. Iacksons Vanitie i. ii. 38 There was an active power in God so allmighty as inabled him to make a World out of nothinge, & consequently was foundation sufficient to denominate the World possible to be, before it was; not by any physicall possibilitie, which allwayes requires a subject really existent, to support it.
1646 Sir T. Browne Pseudodoxia Epidemica i. x. 38 The substraction of that essence, which substantially supporteth them. View more context for this quotation
1656 H. Jeanes Treat. Fulnesse of Christ 154 in Mixture Scholasticall Divinity There is an ability in the person of the word, to suppositate..the manhood, and there was a capacity in the manhood to be assumed, supported, and terminated by the person of the word.
1690 J. Locke Ess. Humane Understanding ii. xxiii. 137 Because we cannot conceive, how they [sc. qualities] should subsist alone, nor one in another, we suppose them to exist in, and supported by some common subject; which Support we denote by the name Substance.
1710 G. Berkeley Treat. Princ. Human Knowl. §68 It must be observed, that it [sc. matter] supports nothing at all.
1797 European Mag. July 21/1 Properties cannot be conceived to exist without some substratum to support them, or subject in which they may inhere.
1884 W. F. Evans Divine Law of Cure ii. i. 145 Philosophers had assumed the existence of a material substance..which underlies all phenomena, or sensible appearances, a substratum supporting all qualities.
1965 Amer. Philos. Q. 2 6/1 He [sc. Locke] tries to drag ‘ideas’ apart from ‘qualities’, and thus to free the substance doctrine of any talk about causal relations by asserting that substances support qualities and that qualities cause sensory states.
2009 S. Wang Aquinas & Sartre ii. 61 The matter is the principle of continuity, the substratum that supports the change in structure.
11. transitive. To act or play (a part) in a sustained way; to display (a character) consistently in one's manner or behaviour; to demonstrate (behaviour) in public life. Also: to represent (a character or part) convincingly in a dramatic performance. Cf. sense 8b.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > behaviour > follow (a course of behaviour) [verb (transitive)] > assume (behaviour or a part)
ontakec1300
playa1425
to take up?c1425
make1559
sustain1560
support1693
society > leisure > the arts > performance arts > drama > acting > act [verb (transitive)] > a part or character
playc1390
enact1430
representc1475
perform1598
personate1598
present1598
do1600
to bring (a person) on or to the stage1602
stage1602
support1693
impersonate1715
sustain1731
be1814
portray1875
fake1876
inact1900
1693 tr. P. Avril Trav. Europe & Asia iii. 188 As he is a person in love with Honour beyond the common rate of the Muscovites, he would have been glad to have been in condition to support his Character [Fr. soutenir son caractere].
1709 R. Steele Tatler No. 48. ⁋4 They supported a general Behaviour in the World which could not hurt their Credit or their Purses.
a1763 W. Shenstone Ess. in Wks. (1765) II. 40 The higher character a person supports, the more he should regard his minutest actions.
1775 R. B. Sheridan St. Patrick's Day i. ii I hate militia officers,..clowns in military masquerade, wearing the dress without supporting the character.
1791 Theatr. Guardian No. 6. 61 The characters were admirably supported.
1801 J. Strutt Glig-gamena Angel-ðeod iii. vi. 224 Persons capable of well supporting assumed characters.
1848 Theatr. Times 29 July 346/2 Mr. Percy supported the part of Sir Richard Forth. Mr. H. Corri as Sir George Walton, elicited the warmest approbation.
1888 J. Bryce Amer. Commonw. I. xiv. 195 In order to support the rôle which they unconsciously fall into when talking to Europeans.
1949 Life 20 June 36/3 By virtue of tradition, fiscal honor and Continental preference, Britain to some extent remains the banker of Western Europe—without the means to support the role.
1998 W. Maina in A. Van Rooy Civil Society & Aid Industry v. 153 To support the role it had planned for itself, it [sc. the African State] became a key player in the economy and took on large social provisioning programmes.
Phrases
Military (now historical). to support arms: to carry one's musket or rifle vertically against the left shoulder, with the cock or hammer resting on the left arm held horizontally across the body.
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > drill or training > drill [verb (intransitive)] > position weapons
recover arms (also swords)1685
to support arms1779
to secure arms1795
to shoulder arms1844
1779 Regulations Order & Discipline Troops U.S. x. 50 After the first twenty paces he [sc. the commanding officer] Support—Arms!
1795 T. Reide Treat. Duty Infantry Officers vii. 141 They [sc. the manual exercises] are much easier learned by recruits, who should likewise be taught to support arms [etc.].
1826 J. Holbrook Mil. Tactics 83 The instructer will frequently order the company to support arms.
1882 E. Upton in H. T. Reed Elements Mil. Sci. & Tactics i. 113 Each skirmisher supports arms upon taking his place in ranks.
1996 A. D. Gaff On Many Bloody Field iii. 46 The captain then commanded his company to ‘Support Arms’ and the mustering officer called the company roll.
Compounds
support arms n. Military (now historical) the position or action of supporting arms.
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > drill or training > [noun] > weapon-training > manual exercise > position of weapon
posture1611
support arms1807
1807 tr. Syst. Discipline & Manœuvres Infantry 211 The interior sections and divisions will remain at support arms and not fire.
1878 Ann. Rep. Chief of Ordnance 472 A plan has been suggested to simply turn the bolt to a vertical position, and lock the same for convenience in carrying the gun at the support arms.
1930 Pop. Mech. Sept. 428/2 Until after the Civil war, the position [sc. port arms] was known as ‘support arms’.
2006 R. Field Confederate Army1861–65 IV. 35/2 (caption) L. Ewing attempts to hold a musket at ‘support arms’.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2012; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
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n.c1391v.c1384