upholder

from WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006)
upholder
    n 1: someone who upholds or maintains; "firm upholders of
         tradition"; "they are sustainers of the idea of democracy"
         [syn: {upholder}, {maintainer}, {sustainer}]
    
from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Upholder \Up*hold"er\, n. [Up + holder. Cf. {Upholsterer}.]
   [1913 Webster]
   1. A broker or auctioneer; a tradesman. [Obs.]
      [1913 Webster]

   2. An undertaker, or provider for funerals. [Obs.]
      [1913 Webster]

            The upholder, rueful harbinger of death. --Gay.
      [1913 Webster]

   3. An upholsterer. [Obs.]
      [1913 Webster]

   4. One who, or that which, upholds; a supporter; a defender;
      a sustainer.
      [1913 Webster]
    
from Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0
106 Moby Thesaurus words for "upholder":
      Maecenas, abettor, admirer, advocate, aficionado, alpenstock,
      angel, apologist, approver, arm, athletic supporter, back,
      backbone, backer, backing, bandeau, bearer, bra, brace, bracer,
      bracket, brassiere, buff, buttress, cane, carrier, certifier,
      cervix, champion, confirmer, corset, cosignatory, cosigner, crook,
      crutch, defender, dependence, encourager, endorser, exponent, fan,
      favorer, foundation garment, friend at court, fulcrum, girdle,
      guarantor, guard, guy, guywire, insurer, jock, jockstrap, lover,
      mainstay, maintainer, mast, neck, notary, notary public, paladin,
      paranymph, partisan, party, patron, promoter, prop, protagonist,
      protector, ratifier, reinforce, reinforcement, reinforcer,
      reliance, rest, resting place, rigging, second, seconder, sectary,
      shoulder, shroud, sider, signatory, spine, sponsor, sprit, staff,
      stalwart, standby, standing rigging, stave, stay, stick, stiffener,
      strengthener, subscriber, support, supporter, sustainer,
      sympathizer, underwriter, vindicator, votary, walking stick,
      well-wisher

    

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