Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

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.

   2. To endure without being overcome, exhausted, or changed in
      character; to sustain; as, to support pain, distress, or
      misfortunes.

            This fierce demeanor and his insolence The patience
            of a god could not support.           --Dryden.

   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.

   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.

   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.

   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.

   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.

            To urge such arguments, as though they were
            sufficient to support and demonstrate a whole scheme
            of moral philosophy.                  --J. Edwards.

   8. To vindicate; to maintain; to defend successfully; as, to
      be able to support one's own cause.

   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.

            Wherefore, bold pleasant, Darest thou support a
            published traitor?                    --Shak.

   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.

   {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.

   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.

Support \Sup*port"\, n. [F.]
   1. The act, state, or operation of supporting, upholding, or
      sustaining.

   2. That which upholds, sustains, or keeps from falling, as a
      prop, a pillar, or a foundation of any kind.

   3. That which maintains or preserves from being overcome,
      falling, yielding, sinking, giving way, or the like;
      subsistence; maintenance; assistance; re["e]nforcement;
      as, he gave his family a good support, the support of
      national credit; the assaulting column had the support of
      a battery.

   {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.

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

Source : WordNet®

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 had the support of his own party"; "they
        developed a scheme of mutual support"
     3: something providing immaterial support or 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: {reinforcement}, {reenforcement}]
     5: documentary validation; "his documentation of the results
        was excellent"; "the strongest support for this this view
        is the work of Jones" [syn: {documentation}]
     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: {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: {supporting}]
     9: a subordinate musical part; provides background for more
        important parts [syn: {accompaniment}, {musical
        accompaniment}, {backup}]
     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: {financial support}, {funding}, {backing}, {financial
         backing}]

support
     v 1: give moral or psychological support, aid, or courage to;
          "She supported him during the illness"; "Her children
          always backed her up" [syn: {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}]
     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}, {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},
         {affirm}] [ant: {negate}]
     6: adopt as a belief; "I subscribe to your view on abortion"
        [syn: {subscribe}]
     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}]
     8: argue or speak in defense of; "She supported the motion to
        strike" [syn: {defend}, {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},
          {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}, {brook}, {abide}, {suffer},
          {put up}]