1. (n.) The act of maintaining; sustenance; support; defense; vindication.

2. (n.) That which maintains or supports; means of sustenance; supply of necessaries and conveniences.

3. (n.) An officious or unlawful intermeddling in a cause depending between others, by assisting either party with money or means to carry it on. See Champerty.

TLC abidingness age aid alimentation alimony allowance antiquity backing bottling up bread care carriage carrying conservancy conservation conservationism constancy continualness continuance continuation continuity contribution corking up daily bread defeat of time defiance of time diuturnity durability durableness duration economic support endowment endurance environmental conservation extension forest conservation forest management holding holding in inhibition keep keeping lastingness lengthening livelihood living locking in long standing long-lastingness long-livedness longevity maintaining manna meat moral support mothering nourishment nurture paying the bills perdurability perennation permanence perpetuation perpetuity perseverance persistence prehension preserval preservation price support progress progression prolongation protection protraction provision psychological support pursuance reliance repetition repression retainment retention retentiveness retentivity run safekeeping salt salvage salvation saving security blanket soil conservation stability standing standing treat staying power steadfastness stipend straight course stream conservation subsidization subsidy subsistence subvention support supportive relationship supportive therapy suppression survival survivance sustained action sustaining sustainment sustenance sustentation tenacity tender loving care treat uninterrupted course unremittingness upholding upkeep water conservation way wetlands conservation wildlife conservation