c. 1300, sustenaunce, "means of living, subsistence, livelihood," especially "food, victuals, that which supports life," from Anglo-French sustenance, sustenaunce, Old French sostenance "support, aid" (Modern French soutenance), from Late Latin sustinentia "endurance," abstract noun from present-participle stem of Latin sustinere "to hold up" (see sustain). Meaning "action of sustaining life by food" is from late 14c.
Related: Sustenant; English 15c.-17c. had sustentacle "that which upholds or supports." Noun of action sustention "act of sustaining" is by 1868. Sustainment "maintenance, support; one who sustains" (mid-15c.) is from Old French soustenement.
also semiprofessional, 1824, in reference to one who is paid for an occupation or activity but does not rely on it for sustenance, from semi- + professional (adj.). As a noun from 1843. Related: Semi-professionally.
c. 1300, vitaylle (singular), from Anglo-French and Old French vitaille "food, nourishment, provisions," from Late Latin victualia "provisions," noun use of plural of victualis "of nourishment," from victus "livelihood, food, sustenance, that which sustains life," from past participle stem of vivere "to live" (from PIE root *gwei- "to live"). Spelling altered early 16c. to conform with Latin, but pronunciation remains "vittles."
"food, drink, sustenance," early 15c., from Latin nutrimentum "nourishment; support," from nutrire "to nourish, suckle, feed," from PIE *nu-tri-, suffixed form (with feminine agent suffix) of *(s)nau- "to swim, flow, let flow," hence "to suckle," extended form of root *sna- "to swim."
early 15c., norishement, "food, sustenance, that which, taken into the system, tends to nourish," from Old French norissement "food, nourishment," from norrir (see nourish). From c. 1300 as "fostering, upbringing; act of nourishing or state of being nourished." Figurative sense of "that which promotes growth or development of any kind" is by 1570s.
1650s, "nourishment," also "allowance to a wife from a husband's estate, or in certain cases of separation," from Latin alimonia "food, support, nourishment, sustenance," from alere "to nourish, rear, support, maintain" (from PIE root *al- (2) "to grow, nourish") + -monia suffix signifying action, state, condition (cognate with Greek -men). Derived form palimony was coined 1979, from pal (n.). Related: Alimonious.
c. 1300, "act of discovering" (by chance or after searching; also an instance of this); verbal noun from find (v.). From c. 1400 as "what the mind discovers; knowledge attained by human effort" (as distinct from revelation or authority). Late 14c. as "act of sustaining, supporting, or providing the necessities of life; that which is provided by way of sustenance and support." Legal sense "proceedings leading to a verdict in an inquisition, etc.," is from mid-15c. Old English finding meant "invention." Related: Findings.
early 14c., "action of displaying," from Old French exhibicion, exibicion "show, exhibition, display," from Late Latin exhibitionem (nominative exhibitio), noun of action from past-participle stem of Latin exhibere "to show, display, present," literally "hold out, hold forth," from ex "out" (see ex-) + habere "to hold" (from PIE root *ghabh- "to give or receive"). Also from early 15c. as "sustenance, food, source of support." Meaning "that which is exhibited" is from 1786.
1946, "instinctive quality felt by Black Americans as an attribute," jazz slang, from soul (n.1), probably in the sense of "the animating or essential part." From this sense are formations such as soul brother (1957), soul sister (1967), soul food (1957 in this sense, c. 1200 as "spiritual sustenance"), etc. Soul music, originally a type of popular music typically sung by Black singers and combining elements of R&B and gospel, is so called by 1961; William James used the term in 1900, in a spiritual/romantic sense, but in reference to inner music.
