SUSTENTATION Sus`ten*ta"tion, n. Etym: [L. sustentatio sustenance, maintenance, fr. sustentare to support, maintain, v. intens. fr. sustinere to sustain: cf. F. sustentation. See Sustain.]
1. The act of sustaining, or the state of being sustained; preservation from falling; support; sustenance; maintenance.
2. (Physiol.)
Defn: The aggregate of the functions by which a living organism is maintained in a normal condition of weight and growth. Sustentation fund (Eccl.), a fund of a religious body for support of its ministers, chapels, etc.; as, the sustentation fund of the Free Church of Scotland.
SUSTENTATIVE
Sus"ten*ta*tive, a.
Defn: Adapted to sustain, strengthen, or corroborate; as, sustentative citations or quotations. Sustentative functions (Physiol.), those functions of the body which affect its material composition and thus determine its mass.
SUSTENTION
Sus*ten"tion, n.
Defn: Sustentation. [R. or Colloq.]
In fine images, in sustention, in irony, they surpass anything that
Burke ever wrote. J. Morley.
SUSTER; SUSTRE
Sus"ter, Sus"tre, n.; pl. Susters (, Sustres, or Sustren (.
Defn: Sister. [Obs.] Chaucer.
There are seven sustren, that serve truth ever. Piers Plowman.