Support, vb. 1) to prop, to sustain, to keep from falling or sinking: so strong a prop to s. so weak a burden, Ven. Ded. H8 II, 3, 64 “these forceless flowers like sturdy trees s. me,” Ven. 152. “s. him by the arm,” As II, 7, 199. “here am I left to underprop this land, who, weak with age, cannot s. myself,” R2 II, 2, 83. “these feet . . . unable to s. this lump of clay,” H6A II, 5, 14.
2) to uphold by aid or countenance: “to s. so dissolute a crew,” R2 V, 3, 11. “to strengthen and s. King Edward's place,” H6C III, 1, 52. “make edicts for usury, to s. usurers,” Cor. I, 1, 84. “'tis not enough to help the feeble up, but to s. him after,” Tim. I, 1, 108. “kept his credit with his purse, --ed his estate,” III, 2, 76. “for --ing robbers,” Caes. IV, 3, 23. “wherefore darest thou s. a published traitor?” Lr. IV, 6, 236.
3) to maintain, to sustain: “and in the most exact regard s. the worships of their name,” Lr. I, 4, 287.
4) to bear, to endure: “his flawed heart, too weak the conflict to s.” Lr. V, 3, 197. “I a heavy interim shall s. by his dear absence,” Oth. I, 3, 259.
Shakespeare Lexicon. Alexander Schmidt. Berlin. Georg Reimer. 1902.
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