sustenance

  • 1Sustenance — Sus te*nance, n. [OF. sustenance, sostenance, soustenance: cf. L. sustenentia endurance. See {Sustain}.] 1. The act of sustaining; support; maintenance; subsistence; as, the sustenance of the body; the sustenance of life. [1913 Webster] 2. That… …

    The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 2sustenance — c.1300, means of living, subsistence, livelihood, from O.Fr. sustenance (Fr. soutenance), from L.L. sustinentia endurance, from L. sustinens, prp. of sustinere (see SUSTAIN (Cf. sustain)). Meaning action of sustaining life by food is from late… …

    Etymology dictionary

  • 3Sustenance — can refer to any means of subsistence or livelihood; *food *any subsistence economy: see list of subsistence techniques **hunting gathering **animal husbandry **subsistence agricultureee also*Economy …

    Wikipedia

  • 4sustenance — I noun aliment, alimentation, alimentum, food, keep, living, maintenance, means of sustaining life, necessities, nourishment, nutriment, nutrition, provisions, subsistence, supplies, support, sustentation, upkeep, victuals, victus II index aid (h …

    Law dictionary

  • 5sustenance — 1 nourishment, nutriment, *food, aliment, pabulum, pap 2 maintenance, support, *living, livelihood, subsistence, keep, bread …

    New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • 6sustenance — [n] necessities for existence aid, aliment, bacon*, bread*, bread and butter*, comestible, daily bread*, eatables, edibles, food, keep, livelihood, maintenance, nourishment, nutrition, pap*, provender, provision, ration, refreshment, salt*,… …

    New thesaurus

  • 7sustenance — ► NOUN 1) food and drink regarded as sustaining life. 2) the process of sustaining or keeping alive …

    English terms dictionary

  • 8sustenance — [sus′tə nəns] n. [ME < OFr soustenance < LL sustinentia, patience, endurance < L sustinere: see SUSTAIN] 1. a sustaining or being sustained 2. one s means of livelihood; maintenance; support 3. that which sustains life; nourishment; food …

    English World dictionary

  • 9sustenance — sus|te|nance [ˈsʌstənəns] n [U] formal [Date: 1200 1300; : Old French; Origin: sustenir; SUSTAIN] 1.) food that people or animals need in order to live ▪ Without sustenance, the animals will soon die. ▪ Potatoes were their only means of… …

    Dictionary of contemporary English

  • 10sustenance — noun (U) 1 formal food that keeps people strong and healthy; nourishment: The children were thin and badly in need of sustenance. 2 informal food you feel you need because you are tired and hungry: I need sustenance! Let s go get some food! |… …

    Longman dictionary of contemporary English