sus·ten·ta·tion 
(sŭs′tən-tāshən, -tĕn-)
(sŭs′tən-tāshən, -tĕn-)n.
1. Sustenance or maintenance, as with money.
2. Something that sustains; a support.
[Middle English, from Old French, from Latin sustentātiō, sustentātiōn-, from sustentātus, past participle of sustentāre, to support; see SUSTENTACULAR.]
susten·ta′tive (-tā′tĭv) adj.