sustain

Where does the word "sustain" come from? It comes from Latin sustinere, and was adopted directly into English (1300s).

Sustain’s story begins in Latin: sustinere meant “to hold up, to support.” To hold up, to support, from sub- (up from below) and tenere (to hold). It reached English by 1300s as sustain. Settled as the English word for supporting or maintaining something over time. Today, sustain means to support, maintain, or keep something going over time.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient sustinere "to hold up, to support", to hold up, to support, from sub- (up from below) and tenere (to hold).
2. Stage 2 · English · 1300s sustain "to support or maintain something over time", settled as the English word for supporting or maintaining something over time.