sustentation

sustentation
    n 1: the act of sustaining life by food or providing a means of
         subsistence; "they were in want of sustenance"; "fishing
         was their main sustainment" [syn: {sustenance},
         {sustentation}, {sustainment}, {maintenance}, {upkeep}]
    

Sustentation \Sus`ten*ta"tion\, n. [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.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. (Physiol.) The aggregate of the functions by which a
      living organism is maintained in a normal condition of
      weight and growth.
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   {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.
      [1913 Webster]