n.
Pronunciation: s ə b- ' sis-t ə n(t)s
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Late Latin subsistentia, from subsistent-, subsistens, present participle of subsistere
Date: 15th century
1 a (1) : real being : EXISTENCE (2) : the condition of remaining in existence : CONTINUATION , PERSISTENCE b : an essential characteristic quality of something that exists c : the character possessed by whatever is logically conceivable
2 : means of subsisting: as a : the minimum (as of food and shelter) necessary to support life b : a source or means of obtaining the necessities of life
– sub · sis · tent \ -t ə nt \ adjective