▪ I. supporter
(səˈpɔətə(r))
Also 5 -our.
[f. support v. + -er1.]
One who or that which supports.
1. a. One who sides with, backs up, assists, or countenances a person, cause, etc.
| 1432–50 tr. Higden (Rolls) IV. 165 Marius and his supporters. c 1450 Brut ii 370 A Squier of Walis þat was a rebell & a ryser, and supporter of Owen of Glyndore. 1526 Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W. 1531) 114 b, He was also called a glutton,..a deceyuer of the people, a supporter of synners. 1588 Greene Pandosto (1607) 50, I am accused that I haue been a supporter of Fawnias pride. 1647 Clarendon Hist. Reb. ii. §87 The Marquis of Hamilton..was like to stand in need of great Supporters. 1733 Swift Let. to D'chess Queensberry 20 Mar., You are grown very tetchy since I lost the dear friend who was my supporter. 1836 Hor. Smith Tin Trump. (1876) 255 Staunch supporters of the Church. 1855 Macaulay Hist. Eng. xviii. IV. 209 Some French brandy..part of James's farewell gift to his Highland supporters. 1868 E. Edwards Ralegh I. xxv. 586 He was the supporter of an English alliance with France. |
b. Mil. A force that supports another, as in a second line. (Cf. support n. 5 b, v. 12.)
| 1796 Instr. & Reg. Cavalry (1813) 196 The last one or two squadrons of such a column are always to be considered as the supporters of those that attack. 1902 Words of Eyewitness 144 Two companies of the East Surrey were ordered forward..to cover the retreat. Which suffered most, supporters or supported, I do not know. |
2. a. One who keeps a person or thing from failing, giving way, or perishing; a sustainer, maintainer.
| a 1475 G. Ashby Dicta Philos. 1062 Yf he be iuste, of right a supportour. 1589 Nashe in Greene Menaphon Pref. (Arb.) 17 George Peele,..the chiefe supporter of pleasance nowe liuing, the Atlas of Poetrie. 1641 J. Jackson True Evang. T. iii. 213 Peace..is the very supporter of Individualls, Families, Churches, Common-wealths. c 1650 South Serm., John xv. 26 (1744) VIII. 402 Under so many discouragements from without, they must needs have sunk, had they not had some supporter within. 1679 C. Nesse Antichrist Ep. Ded., Nobility..wants its true supporter, and soon dwindles into nothing. 1682 Dryden To Duchess of York 8 Love was no more when Loyalty was gone, The great Supporter of his awful Throne. |
b. Chem. A substance that maintains some process, esp. combustion.
| 1806 G. Adams Nat. & Exp. Philos. I. App. Amer. Ed. 541 Acids may be divided into three classes,..2, supporters of combustion. The acid supporters are the oxymuriatic, and the hyperoxymuriatic. c 1865 Letheby in Circ. Sci. I. 88/2 When coal gas is burnt in atmospheric air.., we call the gas the combustible, and the air..the supporter. |
3. a. A thing (or person) that sustains the weight of something, or upon which something rests; a prop; a basis or substratum; = support n. 7.
| 1595 Shakes. John iii. i. 72 My greefe's so great, That no supporter but the huge firme earth Can hold it vp. 1601 Holland Pliny xvi. xl. I. 489 The foure entire stones which bare up the said Obeliske as supporters. 1650 W. D. tr. Comenius' Gate Latin Unl. §439 Hee bear's up (undersetteth) the leavie tendrels with props, or supporters. 1665 Sir T. Herbert Trav. (1677) 136 That noted Aquaduct..the pipes by supporters reaching from Mountain to Mountain. 1703 T. N. City & C. Purchaser 10 The Supporters, or Butments of this Arch. 1707 Mortimer Husb. (1721) I. 147 A Building set upon Supporters. 1774 J. Bryant Mythol. II. 334 The priests, and supporters..carry the sacred vehicle. 1809 A. Henry Trav. 98 A pole which might be called the supporter of the building. |
† b. A wire frame for supporting a large ruff. (Cf. supportasse.) Obs.
| 1592 Warner Alb. Eng. ix. xlvii. (1612) 218 Busks, Perrewigs, Maskes, Plumes of feathers fram'd, Supporters. 1599 Minsheu Span. Dial. 15/2 Head rolles, coifes of gold, supporters, gorgets of networke. 1601 Dent Pathw. Heaven (1831) 38 It was never good world, since starching and steeling,..supporters and rebatoes..came to be in use. |
c. A leg. (Now only humorous.)
| 1601 Holland Pliny vii. l. I. 183 The eye-sight decayeth.., the hearing followeth soon after, then faile the supporters. 1625 Shirley Maid's Rev. i. ii, These brawny arms, this manly bulk, and these colossian supporters. 1681 Dineley in Jrnl. Kilkenny Archæol. Soc. Ser. ii. I. 178 The supporters of the woemen are very large. 1863 Sala in Temple Bar VIII. 73, I am feeble on the supporters. |
† d. Each of the divisions of the calyx, regarded as supporting the corolla or flower; a sepal. Obs.
| 1626 Bacon Sylva §590 The Sockets, and Supporters of Flowers, are Figured: As in the Five Brethren of the Rose. 1712 tr. Pomet's Hist. Drugs I. 51 Each of the Flowers has five or six Purple Supporters. |
e. Naut. See quot.; also = bibb.
| 1815 Burney Falconer's Dict. Marine, Supporters, in ship building, a name given to the knee-pieces of oak-timber under the cat-heads. |
† f. Metaph. = support n. 7 b. Obs. rare.
| 1697 Locke Let. to Bp. Worc. Wks. 1714 I. 352 A Relation cannot be founded in nothing, or be the Relation of nothing, and the thing here related as a Supporter, or a Support, is not represented to the Mind by any clear and distinct Idea. |
g. A jock-strap.
| 1895 Montgomery Ward Catal. Spring & Summer 488/3 The best fitting, most comfortable and effective supporter yet devised. Used by ball players, athletes and the theatrical profession generally. 1978 R. Doliner On the Edge (1979) iv. 66 The Senator pulled on his supporter, made a cup of his hand and laid himself gently to rest in the elastic sling. |
4. Her. A figure of an animal mythical creature, human being, etc., represented as holding up or standing beside the shield; each of two such figures, one on each side of the shield.
| 1572 J. Bossewell Armorie ii. 112 Of the supporters, the one is a Beuer..The other assistant is an Harpie. 1599 Thynne Animadv. (1875) 42 The erle of Kent bearethe a wiuer for his Creste and supporters;..the erle of Cumberlande, a wiuer geules for his supporters. 1610 J. Guillim Heraldry vi. vi. 271 If the things be liuing and sease vpon the Shield, then shall they be called properly Supporters. a 1700 Evelyn Diary 17 Sept. 1662, A field Argent, with a canton of the armes of England; the supporters two talbots Argent. 1778 Pennant Tour in Wales (1883) I. 41 The dragon and the gre-hound, the Supporters of the arms of England during the reign of Henry VII. 1814 Scott Wav. viii, Two rampant bears, the supporters of the family of Bradwardine. 1849 Macaulay Hist. Eng. iii. I. 322 He knew the genealogies and coats of arms of all his neighbours, and could tell which of them had assumed supporters without any right. 1868 Cussans Her. xv. (1882) 194 Double Supporters were not generally adopted until the Fourteenth Century. |
| allusively 1615 Breton Char. vpon Essaies Wks. (Grosart) II. 9/1 Her Supporters are Time and Patience, her Mantle Truth. |
5. a. One who attends another for the purpose of giving physical or moral support; hence, an attendant, as in a procession: sometimes with allusion to prec. sense.
| a 1586 Sidney Arcadia iii. xxi. (1912) 477 The fayre Ladie being come to the scaffold, and then made to kneele downe, and so lefte by her unkinde supporters. 1603 Shakes. Meas. for M. v. i. 18 Come Escalus, You must walke by vs, on our other hand: And good supporters are you. a 1616 Beaum. & Fl. Wit without M. iv. i, Fie, how I sweat under this Pile of Beef;..give some supporters, or else I perish. 1632 Massinger & Field Fatal Dowry v. i, You have done me a disgrace in giving cause To all the street to think I cannot stand Without these two supporters for my arms. 1642 in Rushw. Hist. Coll. iii. (1692) I. 783 The Likeness of the Standard was much of the fashion of the City-Streamers used at the Lord-Mayor's Show, having about twenty Supporters. 1675 South Serm., Judg. viii. 34–5 (1727) I. 449 Ingratitude..sitting in its Throne, with Pride at its Right-Hand, and Cruelty at its Left; worthy Supporters of..such a reigning Impiety. 1784 Cowper Task i. 479 Others are dragg'd into the crowded room Between supporters. 1825 Scott Betrothed x, The most gallant knights of the Constable's household..walked as mourners and supporters of the corpse, which was borne upon lances. |
b. One who supports a particular form of sport or who makes a practice of following the fortunes of a particular team, by attending matches, etc.
| 1922 Glasgow Herald 30 June 8 An enthusiastic supporter of baseball. 1928 Daily Mail Year-bk. 84/2 The supporters of the Chelsea F.C. 1972 T. Stoppard Jumpers i. 40 That he [sc. God] should have been taken up by a glorified supporters' club is only a matter of psychological interest. 1973 Times 24 Apr. 8/4 You have been wonderful supporters. I think I am very fortunate to play my last match in front of such wonderful people. 1976 Milton Keynes Express 2 July 42/6 There was a unanimous vote that a supporters' club be formed to further promote the need for a track in the area as soon as possible. 1980 Daily Tel. 19 Sept. 3/3 More than 30 supporters were ejected during the match, eight were still in police custody. |
▪ II. supporter
obs. form of sapota.