meaning of maintenance
1.  The act of maintaining; sustenance; support; defense; vindication. 
2.  That which maintains or supports; means of sustenance; supply of necessaries and conveniences. 
3.  An officious or unlawful intermeddling in a cause depending between others, by assisting either party with money or means to carry it on.  See Champerty. 
4.   maintenance 
						 
