Support

support
    n 1: the activity of providing for or maintaining by supplying
         with money or necessities; "his support kept the family
         together"; "they gave him emotional support during
         difficult times"
    2: aiding the cause or policy or interests of; "the president no
       longer has the support of his own party"; "they developed a
       scheme of mutual support"
    3: something providing immaterial assistance to a person or
       cause or interest; "the policy found little public support";
       "his faith was all the support he needed"; "the team enjoyed
       the support of their fans"
    4: a military operation (often involving new supplies of men and
       materiel) to strengthen a military force or aid in the
       performance of its mission; "they called for artillery
       support" [syn: {support}, {reinforcement}, {reenforcement}]
    5: documentary validation; "his documentation of the results was
       excellent"; "the strongest support for this view is the work
       of Jones" [syn: {documentation}, {support}]
    6: the financial means whereby one lives; "each child was
       expected to pay for their keep"; "he applied to the state for
       support"; "he could no longer earn his own livelihood" [syn:
       {support}, {keep}, {livelihood}, {living}, {bread and
       butter}, {sustenance}]
    7: supporting structure that holds up or provides a foundation;
       "the statue stood on a marble support"
    8: the act of bearing the weight of or strengthening; "he leaned
       against the wall for support" [syn: {support}, {supporting}]
    9: a musical part (vocal or instrumental) that supports or
       provides background for other musical parts [syn:
       {accompaniment}, {musical accompaniment}, {backup},
       {support}]
    10: any device that bears the weight of another thing; "there
        was no place to attach supports for a shelf"
    11: financial resources provided to make some project possible;
        "the foundation provided support for the experiment" [syn:
        {support}, {financial support}, {funding}, {backing},
        {financial backing}]
    v 1: give moral or psychological support, aid, or courage to;
         "She supported him during the illness"; "Her children
         always backed her up" [syn: {support}, {back up}]
    2: support materially or financially; "he does not support his
       natural children"; "The scholarship supported me when I was
       in college"
    3: be behind; approve of; "He plumped for the Labor Party"; "I
       backed Kennedy in 1960" [syn: {back}, {endorse}, {indorse},
       {plump for}, {plunk for}, {support}]
    4: be the physical support of; carry the weight of; "The beam
       holds up the roof"; "He supported me with one hand while I
       balanced on the beam"; "What's holding that mirror?" [syn:
       {hold}, {support}, {sustain}, {hold up}]
    5: establish or strengthen as with new evidence or facts; "his
       story confirmed my doubts"; "The evidence supports the
       defendant" [syn: {confirm}, {corroborate}, {sustain},
       {substantiate}, {support}, {affirm}] [ant: {contradict},
       {negate}]
    6: adopt as a belief; "I subscribe to your view on abortion"
       [syn: {subscribe}, {support}]
    7: support with evidence or authority or make more certain or
       confirm; "The stories and claims were born out by the
       evidence" [syn: {corroborate}, {underpin}, {bear out},
       {support}]
    8: argue or speak in defense of; "She supported the motion to
       strike" [syn: {defend}, {support}, {fend for}]
    9: play a subordinate role to (another performer); "Olivier
       supported Gielgud beautifully in the second act"
    10: be a regular customer or client of; "We patronize this
        store"; "Our sponsor kept our art studio going for as long
        as he could" [syn: {patronize}, {patronise}, {patronage},
        {support}, {keep going}]
    11: put up with something or somebody unpleasant; "I cannot bear
        his constant criticism"; "The new secretary had to endure a
        lot of unprofessional remarks"; "he learned to tolerate the
        heat"; "She stuck out two years in a miserable marriage"
        [syn: {digest}, {endure}, {stick out}, {stomach}, {bear},
        {stand}, {tolerate}, {support}, {brook}, {abide}, {suffer},
        {put up}]
    

Support \Sup*port"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Supported}; p. pr. &
   vb. n. {Supporting}.] [F. supporter, L. supportare to carry
   on, to convey, in LL., to support, sustain; sub under +
   portare to carry. See {Port} demeanor.]
   1. To bear by being under; to keep from falling; to uphold;
      to sustain, in a literal or physical sense; to prop up; to
      bear the weight of; as, a pillar supports a structure; an
      abutment supports an arch; the trunk of a tree supports
      the branches.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. To endure without being overcome, exhausted, or changed in
      character; to sustain; as, to support pain, distress, or
      misfortunes.
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            This fierce demeanor and his insolence
            The patience of a god could not support. --Dryden.
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   3. To keep from failing or sinking; to solace under affictive
      circumstances; to assist; to encourage; to defend; as, to
      support the courage or spirits.
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   4. To assume and carry successfully, as the part of an actor;
      to represent or act; to sustain; as, to support the
      character of King Lear.
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   5. To furnish with the means of sustenance or livelihood; to
      maintain; to provide for; as, to support a family; to
      support the ministers of the gospel.
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   6. To carry on; to enable to continue; to maintain; as, to
      support a war or a contest; to support an argument or a
      debate.
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   7. To verify; to make good; to substantiate; to establish; to
      sustain; as, the testimony is not sufficient to support
      the charges; the evidence will not support the statements
      or allegations.
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            To urge such arguments, as though they were
            sufficient to support and demonstrate a whole scheme
            of moral philosophy.                  --J. Edwards.
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   8. To vindicate; to maintain; to defend successfully; as, to
      be able to support one's own cause.
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   9. To uphold by aid or countenance; to aid; to help; to back
      up; as, to support a friend or a party; to support the
      present administration.
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            Wherefore, bold pleasant,
            Darest thou support a published traitor? --Shak.
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   10. A attend as an honorary assistant; as, a chairman
       supported by a vice chairman; O'Connell left the prison,
       supported by his two sons.
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   {Support arms} (Mil.), a command in the manual of arms in
      responce to which the piece is held vertically at the
      shoulder, with the hammer resting on the left forearm,
      which is passed horizontally across the body in front;
      also, the position assumed in response to this command.
      [1913 Webster]

   Syn: To maintain; endure; verify; substantiate; countenance;
        patronize; help; back; second; succor; relieve; uphold;
        encourage; favor; nurture; nourish; cherish; shield;
        defend; protect; stay; assist; forward.
        [1913 Webster]
    

Support \Sup*port"\, n. [F.]
   1. The act, state, or operation of supporting, upholding, or
      sustaining.
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   2. That which upholds, sustains, or keeps from falling, as a
      prop, a pillar, or a foundation of any kind.
      [1913 Webster]

   3. That which maintains or preserves from being overcome,
      falling, yielding, sinking, giving way, or the like;
      subsistence; maintenance; assistance; reenforcement; as,
      he gave his family a good support, the support of national
      credit; the assaulting column had the support of a
      battery.
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   {Points of support} (Arch.), the horizontal area of the
      solids of a building, walls, piers, and the like, as
      compared with the open or vacant spaces.

   {Right of support} (Law), an easement or servitude by which
      the owner of a house has a right to rest his timber on the
      walls of his neighbor's house. --Kent.
      [1913 Webster]

   Syn: Stay; prop; maintenance; subsistence; assistance; favor;
        countenance; encouragement; patronage; aid; help;
        succor; nutriment; sustenance; food.
        [1913 Webster]
    

support
 n.

   After-sale handholding; something many software vendors promise but
   few deliver. To hackers, most support people are useless -- because by
   the time a hacker calls support he or she will usually know the
   software and the relevant manuals better than the support people
   (sadly, this is not a joke or exaggeration). A hacker's idea of
   `support' is a teete-a-teete with the software's designer.
    

support

   After-sale handholding; something many software vendors
   promise but few deliver.  To hackers, most support people are
   useless - because by the time a hacker calls support he or she
   will usually know the software and the relevant manuals better
   than the support people (sadly, this is *not* a joke or
   exaggeration).  A hacker's idea of "support" is a tête-à-tête
   or exchange of {electronic mail} with the software's designer.

   [{Jargon File}]

   (1995-02-15)
    

SUPPORT. The right of support is an easement which one man, either by 
contract or prescription, enjoys, to rest the joists or timbers of his house 
upon the wall of an adjoining building, owned by another person. 3 Kent, 
Com. 435. Vide Lois des Bat. part. 1, c. 3, s. a. 1, Sec. T; Party wall. 
    

601 Moby Thesaurus words for "support":
      A-frame, Maecenas, OK, TLC, abettor, abide, abide with, accept,
      acceptance, accession, accommodate, accredit, acquiescence,
      act a part, act out, admirer, advance, advocate, affirm,
      affirmation, afford, afford hope, afford support, aficionado,
      agreement, agreement in principle, aid, aid and comfort, aliment,
      alimentation, alimony, allege in support, allotment, allowance,
      alpenstock, amen, angel, annuity, answer, anvil, apologist,
      applaud, approve, argue for, arm, assent, assentation, assert,
      assist, assistance, assurance, assure, athletic supporter,
      attend to, attest, attestation, augur well, authenticate,
      authentication, authorize, autograph, auxiliaries, baby-sit, back,
      back rest, back up, backbone, backer, backing, backing up,
      backstop, backup, bandage, bandeau, bankroll, base, beam, bear,
      bear out, bear up, bear with, bearer, bearing out, beef up,
      benefit, bid fair, bide, bit player, block, blow to, bolster,
      bolster up, bolstering, boost, bounty, bra, brace, brace up,
      bracer, bracket, brassiere, brave, bread, brook, buck up, buff,
      buoy up, buttress, buttressing, cane, capitalization, capitalize,
      care, care for, carrier, carry, case harden, certification,
      certify, cervix, champion, chaperon, cheer, cherish,
      circumstantiate, circumstantiation, clothe, column, comfort,
      commend, compliance, concurrence, condolence, confirm,
      confirmation, consent, conservancy, conservation, conservationism,
      conserve, consolation, contend for, contribute, copyright,
      corroborate, corroboration, corroboratory evidence, corset, cosign,
      countenance, counter, countersign, cradle, create a role, crook,
      crosstree, crutch, cry up, cue rest, cushion, daily bread, defend,
      defender, deficit financing, dependence, depict,
      depletion allowance, document, documentation, dole, donate, ease,
      easel, easement, economic support, elect, embolden, enact,
      encourage, encouragement, encourager, endorse, endorser, endow,
      endowment, endure, environmental conservation, espouse, exponent,
      extra, face, fan, favor, favorer, fellowship, figurant, figurante,
      fill, fill up, finance, finances, financial assistance,
      financial backing, financial support, financing, find,
      forest conservation, forest management, fortification, fortify,
      fortifying, forward, foster, foundation, foundation garment, frame,
      friend at court, fulcrum, fund, funding, furnish,
      general agreement, gird, girdle, give, give hope, give permission,
      give support, give the go-ahead, give the imprimatur,
      give thumbs up, go, go treat, good offices, grant, grant-in-aid,
      grubstake, guaranteed annual income, guard, guy, guywire, hand,
      hang in, hang in there, hang tough, harden, have good prospects,
      hearten, hearty assent, heel, help, hob, hod, hold, hold out hope,
      hold out promise, hold up, hype, impersonate, initial, inspire,
      inspire hope, inspirit, invest, invigorate, jack, jock, jockstrap,
      justify hope, keep, keep afloat, keep alive, keep intact,
      keep inviolate, keep safe, keep up, keep watch over, keeping, lap,
      lend support, lift, livelihood, living, look after, look out for,
      look to, lover, lump, lump it, mainstay, maintain, maintainer,
      maintenance, make a plea, make available, make fair promise,
      make provision for, manna, mast, matronize, maulstick, meat, mind,
      minister to, ministration, ministry, mother, mothering,
      music stand, mute, neck, nerve, nominate, not destroy,
      not endanger, not expend, not use up, not waste, notarize,
      nourishment, nurse, nurture, nutriment, office, offices,
      old-age insurance, pabulum, pap, paranymph, partisan, pass,
      pass on, pass upon, patent, patron, patronization, patronize,
      pay for, pay the bill, pay the bills, paying the bills,
      pecuniary aid, pension, pension off, permit, persevere, personate,
      pillar, pillow, play a part, play a role, play opposite, plead for,
      plug, portray, prepare, present, preserval, preservation, preserve,
      price support, probate, promise, promote, promoter, proof, prop,
      prop up, protagonist, protect, protection, protege, prove, provide,
      provide for, proving, proving out, provision, provision of capital,
      public assistance, public welfare, puff, pull, put up with,
      raise expectations, raise hope, raker, ratification, ratify,
      ratline, reassurance, reassure, rebut, recommend, recruit,
      refection, refinance, refresh, refreshment, refute, register,
      reinforce, reinforcement, reinforcements, reinforcer, reinvigorate,
      reliance, relief, remedy, replenish, reply, represent, rescue,
      reserve forces, reserves, respond, rest, resting place,
      restrengthen, retirement benefits, rib, ride herd on, rigging,
      riposte, rubber stamp, safekeeping, salt, salvage, salvation,
      sanction, save, saving, say amen to, say in defense, scholarship,
      scissors truss, seal, second, seconder, sectary, see after, see to,
      service, set up, shepherd, shoe, shore, shore up, shoring,
      shoulder, shred of comfort, shroud, side with, sider, sign,
      sign and seal, skid, soil conservation, solace, solacement, sole,
      spare, spare the price, speak for, speak highly of, speak up for,
      speak warmly of, speak well of, spear-carrier, spine, splint,
      sponsor, sponsorship, sprit, staff, stake, stalwart, stand,
      stand by, stand drinks, stand for, stand to, stand treat,
      stand up for, stand-in, standby, standing rigging, standing treat,
      stave, stay, steel, stick, stick up for, stiffen, stiffener,
      stilts, stipend, stirrup, stock, stomach, store,
      stream conservation, strengthen, strengthener, strengthening,
      strut, submit to, subscribe to, subsidization, subsidize, subsidy,
      subsistence, substantiate, substantiation, substitute,
      substructure, subvention, subventionize, succor, suffer, supe,
      super, supernumerary, supply, supporter, supporting actor,
      supporting cast, supporting evidence, sustain, sustain a part,
      sustainer, sustainment, sustenance, sustentation, swallow,
      swear and affirm, swear to, sympathizer, sympathy, take,
      take a part, take care of, take charge of, tax benefit, temper,
      tend, tender loving care, therapy, tolerate, toughen, tout, treat,
      treat to, tripod, trivet, truss, underbrace, undergird,
      undergirding, undergo, underlie, underpin, underpinning, underset,
      undersign, understudy, underwrite, upbear, uphold, upholder,
      upkeep, urge reasons for, validate, validation, verification,
      verify, visa, vise, votary, vote, vouch for, walk-on,
      walking gentleman, walking stick, warm assent, warrant, watch,
      watch out for, watch over, water conservation, weather, welcome,
      welfare, welfare aid, welfare payments, well afford, well-wisher,
      wetlands conservation, wildlife conservation, withstand, yield