sustentation

noun

sus·​ten·​ta·​tion ˌsə-stən-ˈtā-shən 

-ˌsten-

1

: the act of sustaining : the state of being sustained: such as

a

: maintenance, upkeep

b

: preservation, conservation

c

: maintenance of life, growth, or morale

d

: provision with sustenance

2

: something that sustains : support

sustentative

ˈsə-stən-ˌtā-tiv 

sə-ˈsten-tə-tiv

adjective

Synonyms

• care and feeding
• conservation
• conserving
• keep
• maintenance
• preservation
• preserving
• upkeep

Examples of sustentation in a Sentence

argues that a new toll is needed to pay for the long-term sustentation of the city's bridges

the all-important sustentation of Mount Vernon, Monticello, and other national treasures

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin sustentation-, sustentatio act of holding up, from sustentare to hold up, frequentative of sustinēre to sustain

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1