▪ I. support, n.
(səˈpɔət)
Also 5–6 supporte, 6 suport.
[f. support v. Cf. F. support (from 15th c.).]
I. The action of supporting.
1. a. The action, or an act, of preventing a person from giving way, backing him up, or taking his part; assistance, countenance, backing.
| 1390 Gower Conf. III. 193 To do pite support and grace, The Philosophre..A tale of gret essample tolde. c 1430 Lydg. Min. Poems (Percy Soc.) 22 Lat no man bost..Of tresoure, riches, nor of sapience, Of wordly support. 1490 Caxton Eneydos xxi. 76 Neuer socours ne comforte by me, nor of my supporte, was gyuen to theym. 1533 Bellenden Livy ii. xiii. (S.T.S.) I. 179 Vetusius consul was send in þare supporte. c 1549 Reg. Aberdon. (Maitland Cl.) II. 307 Vtheris gratitudis helpis supportis and guid dedis els done to ws. a 1578 Lindesay (Pitscottie) Chron. Scot. (S.T.S.) II. 163 They..send to Ingland for suport..; quhilk suport was grantit to thame. 1777 Burke Corr. (1844) II. 195 When you find men that you ought to trust, you must give them support. 1802 Nelson 10 Nov. in Nicolas Disp. (1845) V. 30 Your gallant support of me at the Battle of Copenhagen. 1849 Macaulay Hist. Eng. vii. II. 191 That the great plan..might obtain the approbation and support of his father-in-law. 1874 Green Short Hist. ix. §3. 622 Clarendon was still strong in the support of the House of Commons. |
† b. Phr. (see
supportation 1 b).
Obs.| c 1430 Lydg. Lyke the Audience 117 in Pol., Rel. & L. Poems (1903) 55 Vndir support of his [sc. Christ's] magnificence. ― Min. Poems (Percy Soc.) 48 Under support of your pacyence. 1493 Petronilla 41 (Pynson), With humble support of youre audience Peysed youre power and youre holynesse What may this mene? a 1500 Flower & Leaf 590, I..put al I had seen in wryting, Under support of hem that lust it rede. |
c. Spiritual help; also subjectively, mental comfort.
| 1500–20 Dunbar Poems ix. 37 To ignorantis nocht gaif I my teiching,..Nor to my nychtbouris support of my praying. 1673 J. Flavel Fount. Life xxxiii. Wks. 1701 I. 170 When one asked holy Mr. Baines how the Case stood with his Soul, he answered; ‘Supports I have, tho' Suavities I want.’ 1793 Burke Corr. (1844) IV. 177, It would be a matter of support and consolation to me. 1794 Mrs. Radcliffe Myst. Udolpho ii, We must ask support from above. 1861 Mrs. Stowe Pearl Orr's Isl. iv. 26, I hope the Cap'n and Mrs. Pennel'll get some support at the prayer-meetin' this afternoon. 1891 Farrar Darkn. & Dawn xviii, She felt a sense of support in truths which..kindled her imagination and touched her heart. |
d. Corroboration or substantiation (
of a statement, principle, etc.); advocacy (
of a proposal, motion, etc.): chiefly in
phr. in support of.
| 1771 Junius Lett. xlvii. (1788) 260, I..feel a considerable pleasure in being able to communicate any thing..in support of his opinions. 1857 J. Scott Common Bench Rep. N.S.I. 658 Overend, Q.C. and Chandler, in support of the rule. 1875 Jowett Plato (ed. 2) V. 16 Nearly all of [these words]..have the support of some poetical or other authority. 1891 Law Times XCII. 105/1 The evidence to be called in support of their statement. |
e. Mil. The action of supporting other troops.
in support: acting as a second line. (
Cf. 5 b.)
| 1805 James Milit. Dict. (ed. 2) s.v., Line of support, the second line in action. 1892 G. Philips Text Bk. Fortif., etc. (ed. 5) 115 The whole of these troops, whether firing, or either in support or in reserve. |
f. The provision or availability of services that enable something to fulfil its function or help to keep it operational.
| 1953, etc. [see ground support s.v. ground n. 17 d]. 1967 [see sense 9 a]. 1968 Materials Evaluation 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. 1970 Wall St. Jrnl. 20 Mar. 9 Traditionally, support came with the cost of a computer. 1976 Evening Advertiser (Swindon) 31 Dec. 8/2 The MBE goes to..Mr Walter Chapman, manager of the ground support team backing Concorde at Fairford. 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. |
† 2. Bearing or defraying
of charge or expense.
| 1591 Exch. Rolls Scot. XXII. 102 Assignit to the comptar in support of the chairgis and burding of his office. a 1700 Evelyn Diary 21 Feb. 1666, For support of the next yeares charge. |
3. a. The action of keeping from failing, exhaustion, or perishing;
esp. the supplying
of a living thing with what is necessary for subsistence; the maintenance
of life.
| 1686 tr. Chardin's Coronat. Solyman 98 A very great scarcity..of all things necessary for humane support. 1760 Foote Minor i. Wks. 1799 I. 239, 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 Goldsm. Nat. Hist. (1776) VI. 169 All fish..stand in need of air for their support. 1781 Cowper Conv. 771 She boasts..That while in health, the ground of her support Is madly to forget that life is short. 1802 M. Edgeworth Moral T., Forester xii, She had a large family, that depended upon her labour, and her character, for support. 1829 T. Castle Introd. Bot. 285 The wonderful provisions for the propagation and support of plants. 1856 Froude Hist. Eng. I. i. 66 To provide some other means for the support of the impotent poor. 1857 Miller Elem. Chem., Org. ii. 55 Alone, it is insufficient for the support of life. 1915 R. Holmes My Police Crt. Friends v. 152 A youth..being found about the streets without visible means of support. |
b. The action of contributing to the success or maintaining the value of something.
| 1912 Times 19 Dec. 18/3 Rio Tinto [shares] touched 713/4 at one time on French support. Ibid. 20/3 Egyptian futures..relapsed to 9 to 11 points below last night under Continental selling and poor support. |
4. a. The action or fact of holding up, keeping from falling, or bearing the weight of something; the condition of being so supported.
| 1663 Patrick Parab. Pilgr. i. (1687) 2 His Leggs beginning..to fail him, and to deny him so much as their support. 1671 Milton Samson 1634 Those two massie Pillars That to the arched roof gave main support. a 1700 Evelyn Diary June 1645, Without any support of columns. 1796 Phil. Trans. LXXXVI. 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 New Bot. Gard. I. 94 Slender stems which require support. 1842 Gwilt Archit. Gloss., Points of Support, the points or surfaces on which a building rests. |
b. Sc. Law. The resting of the whole or part of a building or of a beam on the property of the servient tenement.
| 1681, 1754 [see servient a. 2]. 1838 W. Bell Dict. Law Scot. s.v. Servitudes, An urban servitude is in some way connected with houses: to this class belong support, oneris ferendi, tigni immittendi, stillicide.., light, prospect. Ibid. s.v., Where a servitude of support is constituted by writing. |
II. One who or that which supports.
5. a. A person or thing that upholds or sustains (in
fig. senses); a supporter, ‘prop’, ‘stay’.
| 1594 Kyd Cornelia iv. ii. 201 High Ioue the heauens among (Their support that suffer wrong). 1649 Jer. Taylor Gt. Exemplar iii. 164 It is to us a comfort and support, pleasant to our spirits. 1671 Milton Samson 554 O madness, to think use of..strongest drinks our chief support of health. 1720 Ozell tr. Vertot's Rom. Rep. I. vi. 332 Wholesome Terror was the Support of the Sumptuary Laws. 1741 Shenstone Judgem. Hercules 314 Nor swells the grape..Without the firm supports of industry. 1831 Scott Ct. Rob. xxx, [Hereward] the most important support of Comnenus during the whole of that eventful day. 1849 Macaulay Hist. Eng. vi. II. 125 Institutions, which..had been considered as the strongest supports of monarchical power. |
b. Mil. (
pl.) A supporting body of troops; the second line in a battle. (
Cf. 1 e.)
| 1852 Burn Naval & Milit. Dict. ii. s.v., Supports to a line of skirmishers. 1875 Bedford Sailor's Pocket Bk. vii. (ed. 2) 263 The leading boats are to contain skirmishers and supports. |
c. Computing. Software or peripherals that are available for use with a particular computer.
| 1984 Which Micro? Dec. 20/1 The BBC Micro..has..software and hardware support. 1985 Which Computer? Dec. 92/3 No external memory support is mentioned, and the system doesn't support the 8087 co-processor. |
6. a. That which supports life; supply of necessaries; means of livelihood or subsistence;
† formerly sometimes simply
= food, provisions.
| 1599 Dallam in Early Voy. Levant (Hakluyt Soc.) 88 We carried our supportes and other Lugedge to the sea-sid. 1611 Bible, Transl. Pref. ¶1 Liuelyhood and support fit for their estates. 1613 Shakes. Hen. VIII, ii. iii. 64 To which Title, A Thousand pound a yeare, Annuall support,..he addes. 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 Mrs. Radcliffe Rom. Forest III. xx. 210 La Luc..tried to take some support; but the convulsions of his throat would not suffer him to swallow. 1823 Scott Quentin D. xxxv, I trust there is charity enough among the noble friends of my house, to make up some support for the orphan of Croye. |
b. One who or that which furnishes means of livelihood, or maintains a person or community.
| 1745 Pococke Descr. East II. ii. ii. xxiii. 114 The support of this place is a great export of white wine. 1825 Lamb Elia, Barbara S―, Her slender earnings were the sole support of the family. 1883 Gilmour Mongols xxiii. 285 He was..the sole support of his father. |
7. a. Anything that holds up, or sustains the weight of, a body, or upon which it rests.
| 1570 Levins Manip. 173/35 A Supporte, adminiculum. 1681 H. Keepe Mon. Westm. 23 That curious Chappell..built by Henry VII whose battlements, Windows, Supports and adornments speak..the magnificence of the Founder. 1827 Faraday Chem. Manip. xxiv. (1842) 648 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 Bennett & Dyer tr. Sachs' 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. |
† b. Metaph. = substratum 1. (
Cf. support v. 8 c.)
Obs. rare.
| 1690 Locke Hum. Und. ii. xxiii. §4 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. |
c. Photogr. The substance (as glass, paper, etc.) which supports the sensitive film on which the image is produced.
| 1878 Abney Photogr. v. 36 In the collodion process,..the support may be of glass, if it be backed with some dark-coloured substance. |
d. The solid substance or material on which a painting is executed.
| 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. |
8. Math. The smallest closed set of elements outside which a given function or mapping is zero.
| 1964 A. P. & W. Robertson Topological Vector Spaces i. 18 Let K(S) be the set of real (or complex) valued functions continuous and of compact support on the separated locally compact space S. 1967 MacLane & Birkhoff Algebra iv. 143 Show that the set of all functions f with finite support constitute a ring..under pointwise sum and convolution product. 1980 D. L. Cohn Measure Theory vii. 200 Define functions g1 and g2 by g1 = h1 and g2 = h2 - (h1 {logicand} h2). Then g1 and g2 are non-negative, their supports are included in U1 and U2 respectively. |
III. 9. attrib. a. That provides support or acts as a support.
| 1953 F. P. Magoun in Speculum XXVIII. 460 At least some of the language of the Riddles is traditional, since verses from these appear in the support-evidence. 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. 1964 Language XL. 26 Old French developed a ‘support vowel’..only where there would have been an unwieldy cluster otherwise. 1967 Times Rev. Industry June 20/2 The ratio of ‘support staff’ to salesmen. 1972 Guardian 2 Feb. 1 The dollar sank close to its new ‘support floor’. 1975 Offshore Sept. 9/1 Now converted into a support ship for the North Sea. 1976 M. Machlin Pipeline liii. 526 By one p.m. Simon Orloff had climbed the twelve foot support member. 1976 Spare Rib Dec. 8/2 Up till now I've always done support gigs. 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. |
b. spec. Designating stockings or tights reinforced with elastic yarn to support the muscles and veins of the legs.
| 1970 Vogue May 64/2 Ours is the original support stocking. 1971 Ibid. Nov. 26/1 Support tights don't have to be thick and ugly. a 1975 R. Crossman Diaries (1977) III. 640 These surgeons come and go but they know nothing about support stockings. 1975 Guardian 25 Mar. 13/5 Support hose or support tights are supplied through the Hospital Supply Service. 1976 Times 26 Mar. 10/3 The support tights market in America has been booming. |
10. Special
Combs., as
support barge, a barge providing assistance for offshore oil-drilling;
support buying, the purchase of a commodity, a currency, or stocks and shares, in order to encourage a price rise;
support cost, the cost of supporting something;
spec. the cost of supporting the armed services;
support group, (
a) a group of musicians taking a subordinate part in a concert; (
b) a group of people giving support to a charitable or political organization;
support line Mil., the second line of troops in a battle; a trench occupied by such troops;
support price, a minimum price for agricultural produce, maintained by support buying or deficiency payments;
support trench Mil., a trench forming part of a line of strong points in the rear of the strong points of the firing line.
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 1958 Spectator 14 Feb. 192/2 To talk about the foreign policy of a small Power would be a little ridiculous if international affairs consisted purely of rocket sites and *support costs. a 1974 R. Crossman Diaries (1976) II. 208, I went across to the Party meeting on German support costs. |
| 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. 1977 Lancashire Life Dec. 75/1 CARE's Wigan support group invited the organisation to inspect the building. |
| 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. 1918 Aussie Aug. 10/1 In that sector of the front..there was a small town... Subsequently, as our Support Line settled down in front of it, it became the object of minute attention on the part of Fritz. 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. |
| 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. Ibid. 2 Oct. 6/2 The food planners tell us solemnly that this is not a subsidy program; it is a support-price program. 1949 A. McLintock Descr. Atlas N.Z. 44 Since the war ‘support schemes’ have also been established for wool and export meat, based on the reserve funds built up during the war and post-war periods of stabilisation..[but] 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. |
| 1915 Times 29 Apr. 9/6 From a *support trench, about 600 yards from the German lines, he observed the gas. 1923 Kipling Irish Guards in Gt. War I. 40 The line of support-trenches was held. |
Sense 5 c in
Dict. becomes 5 d. Add:
[II.] [5.] c. A supporting actor; also
collect., the supporting actors or cast.
Cf. support v. 12 a.
| 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..cameos. |
▸
= support band n. at Additions. Freq. without article.
| 1972 Melody Maker 1 July 17/3 They're playing Wembley's Empire Pool tomorrow night,..as the sole support to Alice Cooper. 1977 Chainsaw Sept.–Oct. 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. |
▸
support band n. a band that takes a subordinate role in a pop concert, typically by preceding the main act;
= support group n. (a) at Compounds.
| 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. |
▪ II. support, v. (
səˈpɔət)
Also 4–5
supporte, 5
suppoorte, 6
Sc. suport (
pa. pple. contr. support), 7
subport.
[ad. (O)F. supporter (= Pr. supportar, It. sopportare, Sp. su-, soportar, Pg. soportar, supportar), ad. L. supportāre to convey, f. sup- = sub- 26 + portāre to carry (see port v.1).] 1. a. trans. To endure without opposition or resistance; to bear with, put up with, tolerate. (In
mod. use often a gallicism.)
| 1382 Wyclif 2 Cor. xi. 1, I wolde ȝe schulden susteyne a litil thing of myn vnwysdom, but and supporte me [gloss or bere vp me]. 1388 ― Col. iii. 13 And support ȝe echon other. 1455 in Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm., Var. Coll. IV. 203 All charges and taxes..ye shall supporte and bere to your power. 1549 Compl. Scot. xvii. 143 The vice of thy ȝongest brother suld be supportit be rason of his ignorance. 1654 tr. Scudery's Curia Pol. 100 How can they support infamy as a matter indifferent? a 1700 Evelyn Diary 25 July 1673, These things his high spirit could not support. 1731 Fielding Mod. Husb. iv. iv, I know several women of fashion I could not support for a tiring woman. 1773 Mrs. Chapone Improv. Mind (1774) I. iii. 83, I cannot support even the idea of your becoming one of those undone lost creatures! 1848 Thackeray Van. Fair xxv, I respectfully decline to receive Mrs. Rawdon—I can't support that quite. 1897 Allbutt's 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. |
† b. To endure, undergo,
esp. with fortitude or without giving way; to bear up against.
Obs.| 1604 Shakes. Oth. i. iii. 259, I a heauie interim shall support By his deere absence. 1605 ― Lear v. iii. 197 His flaw'd heart..too weake the conflict to support. 1615 G. Sandys Trav. 146 Wrongs and contumelies, which they support with an invincible patience. 1671 A. Behn Forc'd Marr. i. ii, Prethee how does she support this news? a 1700 in Cath. Rec. Soc. Publ. (1911) IX. 336 A greevious infirmity.. w{supc}{suph} she supported w{supt}{suph} great patience, and Resignation. 1773 Johnson Let. to Mrs. Thrale 17 Aug., At supper there was such a conflux of company that I could scarcely support the tumult. 1794 Mrs. Radcliffe Myst. Udolpho xxxviii, If she believed herself well enough to support the interview. 1805 Emily Clark Banks of Douro II. 40 Neither of them could support being alone. |
c. trans. To sustain (a contest).
rare.
| 1801 S. Turner Hist. Anglo-Sax. iii. ix. II. 156 Within two months afterwards, the princes of Wessex supported another battle with the recruited confederates at Merton. |
2. a. trans. To strengthen the position of (a person or community) by one's assistance, countenance, or adherence; to uphold the rights, claims, authority, or status of; to stand by, back up.
| 1390 Gower Conf. III. 157 And ek his kinges realte Mot every liege man conforte, With good and bodi to supporte. 1424 in Cal. Pat. Rolls, 8 Hen. VI, 30 The xxiiij aldermen..xal..supporten the mair..in..counsell ghevyng, in walkyng with hym on principal dayes and in procession. c 1450 Lovelich Grail xiv. 648 To him ward ful faste he gan to Ride Forto supporten him at that Tyde. 1508 Dunbar Poems vii. 28 Oure indeficient adiutorie,..That neuer saw Scot yit indigent nor sory, Bot thou did hym suport, with thi gud deid. 1568 Grafton Chron. II. 70 Sending to the King, to..desyre him, that he would not support nor maintaine his enemie within his Realme. 1607 Shakes. Cor. i. i. 84 [They] Make Edicts for Vsurie, to support Vsurers. 1651 Hobbes Leviath. ii. xxix. 168 So was Thomas Becket..supported against Henry the Second, by the Pope. 1686 tr. Chardin's Coronat. Solyman 104 Being supported by the favour of his Prince. 1849 Macaulay Hist. Eng. iii. I. 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. |
b. To uphold or maintain the validity or authority of (a thing); also, to give support to (a course of action).
| 1638 Chillingworth Relig. Prot. iv. §16. 198 The Divels instrument to support errours, and superstitions. 1713 Addison Cato i. i, To form new battles, and support his crimes. 1742 Kames Decis. Crt. Sess. 1730–52 (1799) 45 It is the genius of law to support deeds, as far as they can be supported. 1748 Ld. Hardwicke in Collect. 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. 1800 Addison's Rep. 11 The report..did not pursue the sub⁓mission 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. |
† c. To second, corroborate; also, to intensify, as by contrast.
Obs. rare.
| 1720 Ozell tr. Vertot's Rom. Rep. II. viii. 28 These Advantages in Tiberius, were supported by a noble Air, an engaging Countenance [etc.]. 1778 Sir J. Reynolds Disc. viii. (1876) 453 That light is to be supported by sufficient shadow. |
† 3. a. refl. To assert, maintain.
Obs. rare—1.
| 1468 Paston Lett. II. 314, As I support me to alle the world, I put nevyr maner ne lyfelode of my Maister Fastolf yn trouble. |
b. To back up in a statement or an opinion.
| 1686 W. Hopkins tr. Ratramnus Dissert. iv. (1688) 65 note, Bertram..determining the Sacramental change to be Figuratively wrought, not corporally,..and supporting him⁓self by the Testimony of St. Augustine. 1744 Akenside Pleas. Imag. Design ¶7 The authority of Virgil..will best support him in this particular. 1771 Junius Lett. xlvi. (1788) 258 But Junius has a great authority to support him; which..I accidentally met with this morning in the course of my reading. |
c. To furnish authority for or corroboration of (a statement, etc.); to bear out, substantiate.
| 1761 Foote Liar ii. Wks. 1799 I. 298 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 Priestley Corrupt. Chr. I. ii. 212 [This] is not at all supported by fact. 1817 Selwyn Law Nisi Prius (ed. 4) II. 962 To support an averment in a declaration on a policy of insurance on goods. 1856 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. LIII. 478/1 The application was supported by an affidavit of the applicant. 1895 Ibid. LXXIII. 701/2 The statute..does not seem..to support the assertions for which it was cited. |
d. To second or to speak in favour of (a proposition, or one who makes a proposition); to maintain, or contend for the truth of (an opinion, etc.).
| 1736 Gentl. Mag. VI. 718/1 This Proposition was supported and inforced by the D—ke of A—le. 1842 J. Bischoff Woollen Manuf. II. 105 Lord Wharncliffe..promised to support Lord Harewood when he presented the petition to the House of Lords. 1849 Macaulay Hist. Eng. iv. I. 445 Godolphin..had supported the Exclusion Bill. 1860 Tyndall Glac. ii. xiii. 296 M. Agassiz supported this theory for a time. |
4. a. To provide for the maintenance of, bear the expense of;
† also, to provide funds to meet (expenditure). Now only with immaterial
obj.| c 1413 [see supporting vbl. n. 2]. 1439 E.E. Wills (1882) 115 She beryng, yeldyng, payng and supportyng þerof þe ferme yerely, and oþer charges duryng her lyf. 1553 Acc. Ld. High Treas. Scot. X. 175 To the..wardane of the Myddill Marchis, to support his expensis, xl li. 1585 [see supporting vbl. n. 2]. 1662 Gerbier Principles 15 Ten Thousand Gilders per annum, to support and alter what he had Built amisse. 1691 T. H[ale] Acc. New Invent. p. lxvii, No allowance of any Sallary to support their Office. 1705 tr. Bosman's Guinea 342 These..eat of the best that is to be gotten as long as they have anything to support it. 1817 Parl. Deb. 801 That they supported the expenses out of the interest of the arrears which they withheld. 1818 Scott Hrt. Midl. li, Allowances for the purpose of..supporting the hospitality of the representative of Majesty. 1849 Macaulay Hist. Eng. iii. I. 336 This luxury was supported by a thriving trade. |
b. Law. Of an estate: To be such as to provide for (a remainder).
| 1694 in 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 Blackstone Comm. II. xi. 166 A lease at will is not held to be such a particular estate, as will support a remainder over. 1772 Fearne Contingent Remainders (1791) 424 It was agreed that such limitation was void as a contingent remainder, because there was no freehold to support it. |
5. a. To furnish food or sustenance for; to supply with the necessaries of life.
| c 1430 Lydg. Min. Poems (Percy Soc.) 212 No Corn up growe nor greyn..Man to suppoorte. c 1470 Henry Wallace ii. 413 Syluer thai had, all with him has he tayne, Him to support. 1562 Aberd. Kirk Sess. Rec. (Spalding Cl.) 7 Gif thai support nocht thair awin fader and moder. 1650 Cromwell Let. 9 Sept. in Carlyle, The Ministers in England are supported, and have liberty to preach the Gospel. 1762–71 H. Walpole Vertue's Anecd. Paint. (1786) V. 227 By which community..he had been supported, after he became incapable of business. 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. 1801 Farmer's Mag. Apr. 193 The burden of supporting the poor ought to be sustained by all ranks. 1842 Miss Mitford in L'Estrange Life (1870) III. ix. 137, I must so far neglect my dear father as to gain time for writing what may support us. 1845 Lingard Anglo-Saxon Ch. (1858) II. xii. 204 During the winter they were supported at the expense of the inhabitants. |
† b. gen. To supply.
Sc. Obs. rare.
| a 1508 Dunbar Tua Mariit Wemen 467, I have ane secrete serwand..That me supportis of sic nedis. 1632 Lithgow 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. |
c. To sustain (the vital functions); also, to keep up the strength of (a sick person).
| 1704 Fuller Med. Gymn. (1711) 103 A Gentleman..found that Riding supported him as much as the Change of Air. 1706 E. Ward Wooden World Diss. (1708) 56 The poor Souls, to support Nature, are oblig'd..to spend their Pay upon the very Wine that was assign'd to them. 1786 J. Hunter Treat. Venereal Dis. vi. iii. (1810) 530 The patient must be supported. 1842 [see nature n. 10 b]. |
d. intr. for refl. To live
on.
U.S.| 1870 W. M. Baker New Timothy 232 (Cent. Dict.) We have plenty of property; he'll have that to support on in his preachin'. |
† 6. To make good, repair (a deficiency).
rare.
| c 1449 [see supporting vbl. n. 3]. 1500–20 Dunbar Poems xxviii. 35 Ȝe..Supportand faltis with ȝour supple. 1563–7 Buchanan Reform. St. Andros Wks. (S.T.S.) 11 The principal sal support the defectis of absens of the public reidar and regentis. |
7. a. To bear, hold, or prop up; to keep from falling or sinking;
† occas. to carry (the train of a robe).
| c 1420 ? Lydg. Assembly of Gods 1528 Next whom stood Moyses,..Aaron & Vrre, hys armes supportyng. a 1548 Hall Chron., Hen. VII, 53 b, Next after folowed the lady Cicile suster to y⊇ quene supporting the treyne of the spouse. 1591 Shakes. 1 Hen. VI, ii. v. 14 These Feet, whose strengthlesse stay is numme, (Vnable to support this Lumpe of Clay). 1600 ― A.Y.L. ii. vii. 199 Support him by the arme. 1667 Milton P.L. ix. 427 Stooping to support Each Flour of slender stalk, whose head..Hung drooping unsustained. 1786 Abercrombie Gard. Assist. 180 Rolling grass, trimming and supporting plants. 1842 S. Lover Handy Andy xxiv, Andy, in his fall, endeavouring to support himself, caught at the suspended articles above him. 1862 M. E. Braddon Lady Audley xxxii, Her perfect chin supported by her hand. 1885 ‘Mrs. Alexander’ At Bay vi, As he supported his friend's unsteady steps. |
† b. refl. To hold oneself up, keep an erect position.
Obs.| 1593 Shakes. Rich. II, ii. ii. 83 Here am I left to vnder-prop his Land, Who weake with age, cannot support my selfe. 1727 Gay Begg. Op. i. viii, My head swims! I'm distracted! I can't support myself—Oh! (Faints in a chair.) |
† c. To give one's arm to (a lady); to take (a person) on one's arm.
Obs.| 1625 in Ellis Orig. Lett. Ser. i. III. 201 The Queen..came out..supported by the Count de Tilliers her Lord Chamberlain. 1632 Massinger City Madam i. ii, May I have the honour To support you, lady? 1768 Sterne Sent. Journ., Sword, The Marquis..supported his lady;—his eldest son supported his sister. 1816 Scott Old Mort. xliv, He offered his arm, and supported her into the small ante-room. |
† d. (
Mil.)
to support arms, to carry the musket vertically against the left shoulder, with the hammer resting on the left arm held horizontally across the body.
Obs.| 1833 Regul. Instr. Cavalry i. 28 Sentries posted with advanced arms may afterwards ‘support’ them. |
e. To sustain (a weight of so much).
| 1726 Leoni Alberti's Archit. viii. vii. II. 69/2 The Wall ought to be allowed a due Thickness for the supporting such a weight. 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 Brewster 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. |
f. Her. in
pass. To be flanked by supporters.
| 1562 Legh Armory 88 b, Supported with a Mantiger Argent..and a wiuerne Or. 1610 J. Guillim Heraldry vi. vii. 280 [A shield] Supported by a Lion Rampand, gardant..and an Vnicorne. 1864 Boutell Her. Hist. & Pop. xix. (ed. 3) 296 Each shield..is supported by figures of angels. |
8. a. To constitute the substratum of (a structure); to sustain in position above, have on it or at the top.
| 1617 Moryson Itin. i. 194 The second Bridge..is supported with pillars of wood. 1686 Plot Staffordsh. 372 The whole [town-hall] being supported with a curious Portico of arch⁓work. 1759 Brown Compl. Farmer 98 Let the board be a little supported by two ledges. 1796 Withering Brit. Plants (ed. 3) II. 337 Spokes of the umbel from 3 to 7, each supporting only 1 flower. 1842 Loudon Suburban Hort. 504 The floor of the pit may be supported on arches. 1863 Lyell Antiq. Man ii. 17 These [piles] have evidently once supported villages. 1907 Verney Memoirs I. 3 ‘Andirons’ in front to support the logs of wood. |
† b. Her. in
pass. (see
quots.).
Obs.| 1562 Legh Armory 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. 1728 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. |
† c. Metaph. To be the subject or substratum of. (
Cf. support n. 7 b.)
Obs.| 1656 Jeanes Fuln. Christ 154 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 [see support n. 7 b]. 1710 Berkeley Princ. Hum. Knowl. i. §68 It must be observed, that it [sc. matter] supports nothing at all. |
9. a. To keep (a person, his mind, etc.) from failing or giving way; to give courage, confidence, or power of endurance to.
| 1602 Marston Antonio's Rev. Prol., Heere's the prop that doth support our hopes. 1611 Bible 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. c 1655 Milton 2nd Sonn. to C. Skinner 9 What supports me, dost thou ask? The conscience, Friend, to have lost them overply'd In libertyes defence. 1667 ― P.L. xii. 496 With inward consolations recompenc't, And oft supported so as shall amaze Thir proudest persecuters. 1719 Watts Ps. cxlvi. vi, The Lord supports the sinking mind. 1779 Mirror No. 63 ¶9 He was supported by the conscious admiration of those country⁓men whom he had left. 1818 S. E. Ferrier Marriage ii. xxii, They are wonderfully supported and behave with astonishing firmness. 1838 Lytton Leila iv. iv, ‘Support me O Redeemer,’ she murmured. |
† b. refl. (
occas. intr.) To bear up
under an infliction or
against an untoward event. (
Cf. 1 b.)
| 1638 Junius Paint. Ancients 192 Though a man bee nev[e]r so shamefaced, yet may he support himselfe by the helpe of a good conscience. 1756 T. Amory Buncle (1770) IV. 88 As to myself..I brought a consumption into the world with me, and by art have supported under it. 1777 Johnson Let. to Mrs. Thrale 22 Oct., Against a blow so sudden,..I wonder that she supports herself. |
10. a. To maintain unimpaired, preserve from decay or depreciation.
| 1515 Barclay Egloges iv. (1570) C vj b/1 Supporting Iustice, concorde and equitie. 1526 Pilgr. Perf. ii. v, Some benefytes supporteth the same [lyfe of grace in our soules]. 1605 Shakes. Lear i. iv. 287 Men..That..in the most exact regard, support The worships of their name. 1628 T. Ball Life Preston (1885) 163 The D{supr}. used all his friends for to support & keepe in power this statute. 1710 Prideaux Orig. Tithes i. 5 His Worship be provided for with such a part of our substance, as may be sufficient to support it. 1802 James Milit. Dict. s.v., To support the ancient character of the corps. 1891 Farrar Darkn. & Dawn xlv, The brave and honest Corbulo, who had supported the fame of Roman courage on so many a hard-fought field. |
b. To preserve from failure, contribute to the success of (an undertaking); also, to maintain (a price).
| 1779 Sheridan Critic i. i, On the first night of a new piece they always fill the house with orders to support it. 1855 Poultry Chron. III. 551 For wheat the quotations of Monday were barely supported. 1898 Westm. Gaz. 24 Oct. 9/3 Indian gold shares have been supported. |
c. To maintain in being or in action; to keep up, keep going; to provide the necessary matter for. (
Cf. 4, 5; see also 11.)
| 1738 Swift Pol. Conversat. Introd. 12 The genuine Productions of superior Wits, to embellish and support Conversation. 1766 Goldsm. Vic. W. xvii, She had been for some time supporting a fictitious gaiety. 1778 F. Burney Evelina lxiii, I supported no part in the conversation. Ibid. lxxvi, I..wished Lord Orville had supported his own reserve, and suffered me to support mine. 1785 Swinburne Trav. II. xliv. 307 The conversation..was well supported till mid⁓night. 1812 Sir H. Davy Chem. Philos. 3 A species of air that supports flame in a superior degree. 1826 Art of Brewing (ed. 2) 31 Keeping a quantity of this fermentable matter unattenuated, in order to support the natural consumption. 1838 Lytton Alice viii. vii, Fear not..support your courage—nothing shall harm you. 1856 Froude Hist. Eng. II. viii. 252 The earth will not support human life uncultivated. 1875 Jevons Money (1878) 254 A town which is able to support two banks. |
| absol. 1827 Lytton Pelham III. iv, If it can create, can it not also support? |
d. Of specie: To guarantee the convertibility of (a paper currency).
| 1868 Rogers Pol. Econ. iv. (1876) 38 Great part of this [specie] is used to support the notes which circulate within the country. |
e. Computing. Of a computer, operating system, etc.: to allow the use or operation of (a program, language, device, etc.) with it.
| 1973 W. D. Manville Microprogramming Support for Programming Languages (Thesis, U. of Cambridge) iv. 62 Various actual and virtual machine languages are compared to determine how efficiently they support a particular high-level language, BCPL. 1981 Electronics 10 Mar. 165/1 Software supported by the operating system will remain compatible across the product line and across time. 1982 Which Computer? June 35/2 The Altos will support BASIC, Cobol and Fortran as development languages. 1983 Austral. Microcomputer Mag. Aug. 23/2 The motherboard has eight slots to support expansion cards which provide a Z80 processor. 1985 Which Computer? Apr. 24/2 The system wouldn't run with more than three or four terminals even though it was supposed to support a minimum of 20. 1985 Pract. Computing June 83/3 Alas, the package is not converted to U.K. use and so does not support floating {pstlg} signs or European date formats. |
11. To sustain (a character) in a dramatic performance;
gen. to act or play (a part), bear (a character), maintain (a certain behaviour or course of conduct).
| 1709 Steele Tatler No. 48 ¶4 They supported a general Behaviour in the World which could not hurt their Credit or their Purses. a 1763 Shenstone Ess. Wks. 1765 II. 40 The higher character a person supports, the more he should regard his minutest actions. 1775 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 Strutt Sports & Past. iii. vi. 224 Persons capable of well supporting assumed characters. 1888 Bryce Amer. Commw. I. 195 In order to support the rôle which they unconsciously fall into when talking to Europeans. |
12. a. To give assistance to in a battle,
esp. by a second line of troops; to act with, second (a leading actor); to assist as a subordinate in a contest, a musical performance, or the like. (
Cf. 2.)
| 1848 Alison Hist. Eur. liv. §69 (ed. 7) XII. 115 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 Voyle & Stevenson Milit. Dict. s.v. Skirmishers, To support them [sc. skirmishers] when weakened..is the duty of the supports. 1889 Harper's Mag. Nov. 871/1 As Ophelia,..she supported the elder Booth. 1901 Daily Chron. 23 Nov. 9/5 Whaley is grandly supported by the two Milburns. 1910–11 A. W. Ward in Encycl. Brit. VIII. 534/2 Metropolitan ‘stars’ travelled.. generally alone, sometimes with one or two subordinates in their train, and were ‘supported’, as the phrase went, by the stock company of each theatre. 1913 Times 14 May 6/2 The battalion had established its firing line on the opposite side of the canal with its machine guns and the Field Artillery section supporting the attack. |
b. 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. quot. 1424 in sense 2, and the following:—
| 1697 Dryden Virg. Georg. iv. 316 The servile Rout their careful Cæsar praise..They crowd his Levees, and support his Throne.] |
| 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. |
c. Sport. To be a supporter or follower of (a team, etc.).
Cf. supporter 5 b.
| 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 Book of 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. 071 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. |
▸
trans. Of a pop group or performer: to play a subordinate role to (another act) at a concert;
spec. to precede (the main act).
Cf. support band n. at
support n. Additions.
| 1969 It 4–17 July 10/2 The Rolling Stones..are well supported by such swingin' outfits as..the very heavy Third Ear Band. 1971 ZigZag Mar. Jeff Beck's Tridents used to support us at Eel Pie Island. 1993 Rolling Stone 8–22 July 10/3, We were supporting Dinosaur—even before they added the ‘Jr’—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. |