maintainer, mayntener

[Eng. main tain; -er.] One who maintains, upholds, supports, defends, justifies, or vindicates. "The right worshipful Maister Philip Sidney, a special favourer and maintainer of all kinds of learning."Spenser: Epistle to Master Harvey , signed E. K. main-tain-or, s. [Eng. maintain ; -or.] Law : One who, not being specially interested in a cause, maintains or supports a cause depending between others, by furnishing money, ., to either party. main-ten-ançe, *main-ten-aunce, * maynten-aunce, *men-ten-aunce.s. [O. Fr. mainten ance , from maintenir = to maintain; Sp. manten encia ; Port. manutenencia .] IMG:content-0839.png:[blocks in formation] "So everywhere they rule and tyrannize, For their usurped king domes main ten a unce." Spenser: The Teares of the Muses, pine, pit, sire, sir, marîne; gō, pot, IMG:content-0840.png:[blocks in formation] "Maintenance is an offence that bears a near relation to barretry, being an officious intermeddling in a suit that no way belongs to one, by maintaining or a isting either party with money or otherwise, to prosecute or defend it. A man may however maintain the suit of his near kinsman, servant, or poor neighbour, out of charity and com. pa ion, with impunity. Otherwise the punishment is fine and imprisonment; and by the statute 32 Henry VIII. c. 9, a forfeiture of ten pounds."- Black stone : Comment ., bk. iv., ch. 10. Cap of maintenance : [CAP, 8.]