v.
Pronunciation: s ə b- ' sist
Function: verb
Etymology: Late Latin subsistere to exist, from Latin, to come to a halt, remain, from sub- + sistere to come to a stand; akin to Latin stare to stand ― more at STAND
Date: 1549
intransitive verb
1 a : to have existence : BE b : PERSIST , CONTINUE
2 : to have or acquire the necessities of life (as food and clothing) especially : to nourish oneself < subsist ing on roots, berries and grubs>
3 a : to hold true b : to be logically conceivable as the subject of true statements
transitive verb : to support with provisions