Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
First published 2001 (DOST Vol. X).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Sustentatio(u)n, -cio(u)n, n. Also: sustentatio(u)ne, -tyown, -cio(u)n(e. [ME and e.m.E. sustentacioun (Wyclif), -cion (1389), -tion (1425), OF sub-, sustentation (late 13th c. in Larousse), f. sustentāt-, p.p. stem of sustentāre Susten(e v.]

1. The action of keeping up or maintaining an establishment, institution or material structure; the provision of materials, etc., required for such upkeep. Also transf. c1420 Wynt. v 2908.
That the teyndys off all feys, Landys, and regalyteis, … Suld, to the sustentatyown Off Haly Kyrk, be payit ay 1429–30 Acts Jas. I in Ayr B. Ct. 6 March.
The landis … endland the cost & inwart in the land sex myle sal contrybut to the reparacioune & sustentacioune of the saide galais 1568 Hosack Mary Q. of Scots I 529.
The same landis being … specialie assignit to the sustentatioun of hir hous c1575 Balfour Pract. 50.
The burgh of Perth has just richt and title to tak up and intromet with all unlawis and financis of justice, quhairin thair nychtbouris … happinis to fall, and imploy the samin to the reparatioun and sustentatioun of thair brig upoun Tay 1587 Aberd. Council Lett. I 31.
The infeftmentis maid be our umquhile deirest moder and us for erectioun and sustentatioun of hospitallis and ministeris within burrowis [etc.] 1627 Conv. Burghs III 241.
Tythes … for sustentatioun of thair ministrie, hospitallis, and commoun scoolles and colledgestransf. 1527 Hannay College of Justice 31.
Justice and administratione tharoff is the principalle uphald and sustentation of his grace realme and liegis, without quhilk tha ma na wis stand lange in gud stait

b. The maintenance of a state or condition of affairs at a certain desired level. 1491 Acta Conc. I 168/2.
The honorable sustentacioune … of his hous accordin to his estate and honour 1568 Hosack Mary Q. of Scots I 529.
Na prouision wes deuisit for the support and sustentatioun of the king hir husbandis honorable estait (a sober pensioun … except)

c. specif. The maintenance, chiefly by financial contribution, of church services. 1477 Reg. Episc. Brechin. I 201.
To the sustentatione off the seruice off … Gode 1483 Cart. S. Nich. Aberd. II 335.
It is ordanit … for the sustentation and augmentation of diuine seruice to be made in the paris kirk that Richard Boyl salhaf and bruke the sang scule of Abirdene 1500 Edinb. B. Rec. I 83.
For the taking, raising and inbringing of thir dewities forsaid, to the sustentatioun and uphalding of Goddis service 1500 Edinb. B. Rec. I 81.
Euery master … that takis ane prentis to pay at his entre ten schillingis to the sustentatioun of Godis seruice to be done at the said alter

2. The provision of a person with the means of living; maintenance or support (with the means of subsistence). Also const. in or to do (something), or at (a place).There is some overlap with 3 below.(1) 1389 Wemyss Chart. 24.
Scyr Jon sal gyf to … Doncane til hys sustentacione and hys vphauld for terme of lyve al hys land of Kylmanyne 14.. Acts I 345/2.
For the sustentatioun of the justice ilk day of his air j^c s. 1478 Grey Friars II 14.
This purvyance to be layde in the said almouse house to the sustentacioun of twa bodiis borne or upbred of the barony of Driltoun 1490 Irland Mir. I 58/25.
Erd … is … ordand for the domicyle and sustentacioune of all mankind 1530 Lynd. Test. Pap. 828.
Off temporall substance no thing wald thay haue … Bot, soberlye, thare sustentatioun 1533 Gau 93/20.
O heuinlie fader giff vsz alsua necessar thingis to our corporal sustentatione be our aune richtus laubour 1535 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 153.
George Jamsone, to us and hant all fredomes of our common to his propir sustentatioun, viz. mos, muir and lyng gers 1540–1 Edinb. B. Rec. II 104.
Ane multitude of vyle … creatouris convenis to the said merket daily to gett thair sustentatioun and leving 1542 Grant Chart. 89.
The said James … sall find the … said Katheryne ane honest sustentacioune of met and clait ay and quhill schow be enterit in hyr said landis 1543 Aberd. B. Rec. I 189.
To gif to … frer Johnne Roger, and … his marrow, to their honest sustentacioun, daylie … thre s. 1567 G. Ball. 12.
Geue vs this day our daylie breid, And all thing that Thow hes maid, For mennis sustentatioun 1569 Reg. Privy C. I 681.
The said Johnne … techit the Evangell … at his chargeis till sum provisioun wes maid for the sustentatioun of the ministerie 1570 Crail B. Ct. MS 4 Sept.
The said Troilus sal haif daly duryng his lyftyme foirsaid his meate drynk and honest sustentatioun of all induellaris c1575 Balfour Pract. 335.
Ane minor … sould be sustenit … of the maillis … of his blanche ferm landis … gif the samin be sufficient for his sustentatioun 1609 Skene Reg. Maj. i 2.
The Crowner sall remain at his house quhere he dwels, be the space of ane day, and ane nicht; and sall haue his reasonable sustentation for himself, & twa of his servants(2) 1483 Acta Conc. I 84*/1.
The said prior and convent sall … gif him sustentacion therto in all nedefull thingis according for a gentle man 1498 Acta Conc. II 258.
Quhilk Marione had hir sustentatioun in clething and burd be the sade umquhile Cuthbert(3) 1429 Reg. Episc. Brechin. I 42.
Fourty punde of annuale rent ȝerly to be raysyt … to the sustentatioun of twa chapellanys, and sex chyldir to uphald and minyster Goddys seruice 1511 Chapel Royal 91.
To the sustentacione of the vicar therof to serue the cuyr payand procuragis and synnagis 1525 (1527) Reg. Great S. 96/1.
To the honest sustentatioun of ane chaplane daylie to sing and say at the said altar(4) 1569 St. A. Univ. Rec. 309.
Fyve pundis sex schillingis aucht penneis … to Patrik Fullartoun for sustentatioun of him at the scholis

3. a. The provision of a person, household, etc. (also, an animal) with food, an instance of this. b. The food or nourishment itself.There is some overlap with 2 above.a., b. (1) 1452 Acts II 41/2.
That na maner of wittail be haldin in gyrnall be ony personis forther than is neidfull for thair awin persounis and the sustentacione of thair houshaldis 1496 Acta Conc. II 37.
Assignit to thair [sc. bedemen's] sustentacione … xvj dussane of cane foulis and ane heryȝeld 1530 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 105.
Na vyttaill to be sauld bot allanerly for sustentatioun of the toun quhill ane efternoun 1530 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 106.
Ve cry doun all merchandes to be maid within our burch endurand our vyll exceppand vittail and sustentatioun of men, viz., breid and aill 1531 Bell. Boece I 38.
Ane portioun of cornis, cattellis, [etc.] … was gevin to kirkmen for thair sustentatioun 1531 Reg. Soltre 105.
The said provest sall giff the forsaid vif … four bollis of wictuall to helpe hir sustentacioun as schou mistaris 1556 Elgin Rec. I 30.
The laif of guid sufficient quheit breid for sustentation of the Quenis Majesteis houshald 1566 Inverness Rec. I 135.
Destitute of all keynd of sustentatioun meit and drink quharvpon scho suld leiff 1558-66 Knox II 75.
To tak ony victuallis for thair sustentatioun 1572–3 Reg. Privy C. II 183.
[They] hes put him his puyr wyff and bairnis to sic extreme necessitie that thay ar abill to pereis for lak of sustentatioun 1582–3 St. A. Kirk S. 495.
James Steill officiar is commandit … to lett na sustentatioun cum in the presson hous bot sic as aggreis with the Act of Parliament 1584 Acts III 370/1.
To haue ane fre mercate of victuall flesche fische and all vtheris neidfull for his and his pertineris and thair seruandis and famileis sustentationis 1592 Lanark B. Rec. 109.
That na sustentatioun be gevin him in ward … bot … ilk day ane kaik and ane pynt aill 1596 Dalr. I 91/23.
Thair sustentatione to the feild was brocht out of the hous 1629 Conv. Burghs III 291.
Thair native ships … wer refuised of kettell fisch or anie vther commoditie for sustentatioun of thair cumpanie(2) 1549 Compl. 38/26.
Beystis that … past besyde burnis & boggis on grene bankis to seik ther sustentatione 1580 M. Works Acc. (ed.) I 308.
King James … deput the saidis landis wast for the sustentatioun of the hartis and wyld bestis a1595 Descr. Isles 434.
Romb … conteins mony deir, and for sustentation thairof the same is permittit unlabourit a1595 Descr. Isles 439.
Scarba … is all woodis and craigis … and thairfore it is better for sustentation of bestiall nor for cornes

4. The action of sustaining or keeping up (something non-material). 1571–2 Reg. Privy C. II 121.
To provoke thame … to furneis … sowmes of money … to the sustentatioun … of thair mischevious querrell and tressonabill attemptattis