絶える

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 絶える (たえる) is an intransitive verb for a continuing supply or tradition coming to an end.
• Basic usage: 供給が絶えた reports a food supply ending because of heavy snow, while 伝統が絶えることなく states that a festival tradition continues without dying out.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Actual interruption and negated extinction
  • 絶えた reports that an interruption occurred, whereas 絶えることなく is an adverbial clause negating that interruption. The tradition did not die out in the second example.