soutenu

adjective

sou·​te·​nu

¦sütə¦nü

of a ballet movement

: executed in a drawn-out manner : sustained

Word History

Etymology

French, from past participle of soutenir to sustain, from Old French sustenir

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

• More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
• Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
• Advanced search features
• Ad free!