[mass noun]food and drink regarded as a source of strength; nourishment 生活资料;食物;营养 poor rural economies turned to potatoes for sustenance. 农村经济贫困,于是把土豆作为食物。 ■the maintaining of someone or something in life or existence 支撑物;维持物 he kept two or three cows for the sustenance of his family. 他养了两三头奶牛维持家里的生计。 the sustenance of parliamentary democracy. 议会民主政治的支撑。
语源
Middle English: from Old French soustenance, from the verb soustenir (see sustain)