Where does “sustenance” come from?

Sustenance comes from Old French sustenir, from Latin sustineo, a compound of sub and teneo meaning to hold under or support.

sustenance (English): Something that provides support or nourishment

Definitions

  1. Something that provides support or nourishment

Ancestry of “sustenance”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Vulgar Latinsustenire—
2LatinsustineoI hold up or upright, uphold, keep up, bear up,...
3Latinsub-under, sub
4Proto-Indo-Europeanupóunder, below
5Proto-Indo-Europeanh₃ewp-—

Words derived from “sustenance”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₃ewp- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European upó →Every word from Latin sub- →
sustenance — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer