Subsist
Origin
From French subsister, from Latin subsistere ("to take a stand or position, stand still, stop, stay, remain, continue"), from sub ("under") + sistere ("to cause to stand, place"). Compare consist, desist, exist, insist, persist.
Full definition of subsist
Verb
- To survive on a minimum of resources.
- Atterburyto subsist on other men's charity
- (mostly, philosophy) To have ontological reality; to exist.
- Alexander PopeAnd makes what happiness we justly call,
Subsist not in the good of one, but all. - To continue; to retain a certain state.
- MiltonFirm we subsist, yet possible to swerve.