sustain

The story

1. Latin · derived fromsustineō, sustinēre“to uphold”
2. Old French · derived fromsustenir
3. Middle English · inherited fromsusteinen
4. English todaysustain

From Middle English susteinen, sustenen, from Old French sustenir (French soutenir), from Latin sustineō, sustinēre (“to uphold”), from sub- (“from below, up”) + teneō (“hold”, verb).