sustain (redirected from sustainability)

To carry on; to maintain. To affirm, uphold or approve, as when an appellate court sustains the decision of a lower court. To grant, as when a judge sustains an objection to testimony or evidence, he or she agrees with the objection and gives it effect.

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sustain v. in trial practice, for a judge to agree that a question asked of a witness is objectionable. Thus, an attorney asks the witness a question, and the opposing lawyer objects, saying the question is "irrelevant, immaterial and incompetent," "leading," "argumentative," or some other objection. If the judge agrees he/she will rule "sustained," meaning the objection is sustained (approved) and the question cannot be asked or answered. However, if the judge finds the question proper, he/she will "over-rule" the objection.

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sustain (Confirm), verb affirm, approve, assent to, attest, authenticate, bear out, buttress, certify, consent to, corroborate, defend, document, endorse, establish, evidence, justify, make firm, prove, ratify, sanction, settle, strenghten, substantiate, support, uphold, uphold in evidence, validate, verify, vindicate
Associated concepts: sustain a lower court's decision

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sustain (Prolong), verb attentuate, bolster, conserve, continue, contribute to, elongate, extend, fortify, guard, keep going, keep up, lengthen, maintain, nourish, preserve, promote, protect, protract, reinforce, save, spare, strengthen, stretch, sustentare, sustinere, uphold

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See also: adduce, adhere, agree, aid, allow, approve, assist, attest, authorize, bear, bolster, care, certify, concur, confirm, conserve, continue, corroborate, countenance, defend, demonstrate, document, endure, establish, finance, foster, fund, harbor, help, indorse, justify, keep, last, nurture, organize, pass, perpetuate, persevere, persist, preserve, prolong, promote, protect, provide, reassure, regard, remain, retain, shelter, side, sponsor, subsidize, suffer, supply, support, tolerate, uphold, vouch, witness