Support Means to Carry From Underneath
To support is to hold up or to help. The Latin means to carry from below, which is exactly what a supporting wall does.
To support is to hold something up, or to help someone. The Latin *supportare* means to carry from underneath, from *sub* and *portare*, to carry — the same verb as in *transport* and *portable*. A supporting wall, a support worker and a supporter all carry a load.
- To hold up. *Beams support the roof.*
- To help or back. *Support the campaign.*
- To provide for. *He supports two children.*
- Assistance. *Technical support.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Verb | support | Support the claim. |
| Past | supported | Widely supported. |
| Noun | support | Financial support. |
| Person | supporter | A lifelong supporter. |
| Adjective | supportive | A supportive manager. |
How it is used in a sentence
- The evidence supports the conclusion.Backs it up.
- She supports a local team.Sport.
- Call technical support.Assistance service.
The carrying family
- Support — carry from below
- Transport — carry across
- Export and import — carry out and carry in
- Portable — able to be carried
- Porter — one who carries
From Latin *supportare*, to carry or bring up, from *sub* and *portare*, to carry. English took it in the fourteenth century with both physical and figurative senses.
Support or endorse?
Supporting can be quiet and practical. Endorsing is a public statement of approval, and usually carries the endorser's name.
What is a supporting wall?
A wall carrying structural load from above. Removing one without a beam in its place is how ceilings come down.