sustained

Sustained is an adjective meaning continuing for an extended period or maintained at a constant level without interruption. It can describe a process, condition, or state that endures over time, as in sustained attention, sustained effort, or sustained economic growth. It also describes a tone, signal, or sound that is held for a longer duration than is typical, especially in music and acoustics. As the past participle of the verb sustain, sustained is used in perfect and passive constructions, such as "sustained rain" or "damages sustained in the accident."

In music, a sustained note or chord is one that is held longer than its written value or continues to ring, often aided by resonance or a sustain pedal. In engineering, meteorology, or medicine, the term frequently appears in phrases like sustained load, sustained winds, or sustained-release formulations, denoting persistence over time. In law, an objection can be sustained, meaning the judge accepts it as valid. In everyday usage, a sustained effort or campaign implies ongoing, deliberate activity over a period.

Etymology: sustained comes from sustain, ultimately from Latin sustentare "to hold up," via Old French sustenir or related forms, and is formed with the English suffix -ed to indicate past or completed action.