I. səbˈsist verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Late Latin subsistere to stay alive, exist, be, from Latin, to remain standing, stand up, from sub- up + sistere to stand, cause to stand; akin to Latin stare to stand — more at sub- , stand
intransitive verb
1.
a. : to have existence : be or remain alive : be
enabling a noble action to subsist as it did in nature — Matthew Arnold
b. : persist , continue
2. archaic : to exist in a particular way or condition or have a particular form
3. : to be maintained with food and clothing : have the necessities of life
the town subsists on what mining activities remain — American Guide Series: California
many adult persons can subsist … on less than half the amount of protein recommended — Science
4.
a. : hold , obtain ; specifically : to hold true or good
relations subsist between terms
b. : to have existence as a concept rather than in fact ; specifically : to be conceivable as the subject of a true statement
“the round square does not subsist ” is just as true as “the present King of France does not exist” — Bertrand Russell
transitive verb
1. obsolete : to keep up or in existence : keep alive
2. : to support with provisions : feed , maintain
subsisting troops off the country
II. noun
( -s )
Etymology: short for subsistence
Britain : payment of wages on account