sustentar

Sustentar is a verb used in Spanish and Portuguese with several related meanings centered on the idea of maintaining, supporting, or providing what is needed for someone or something. It is commonly transitive and applies to material, economic, intellectual, or moral contexts. In general, it denotes the action of keeping something standing, viable, or justified over time.

Etymology: the term derives from Latin sustentare, from sub “under” and tenere “to hold,” and passed into Romance languages through historical forms that influenced both Spanish and Portuguese usage.

Usos y acepciones principales: it can refer to physical support, as when a structure or object bears a load or holds something in place; to financial or material support, such as providing for a family or covering expenses; to maintenance or preservation of conditions, for example sustentar un estilo de vida or sustentar costos; to intellectual or argumentative support, as in sustentar un argumento, una hipótesis, or a teoría, meaning to defend or justify it with reasons or evidence; to sustenance of life, meaning to provide food, shelter, and basic needs necessary for existence; and in some contexts, to provide documentary support, as in sustentar pruebas or evidencias in a formal setting.

Notas de uso: in everyday Spanish, sostener is often used for physical support, while sustentar covers broader or more formal senses, including justification or ongoing provision. In Portuguese, sustentar shares these senses and is widely used across formal, legal, and academic registers.