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subsist - 4 dictionary results

sub⋅sist

  [suhb-sist]
Use subsist in a Sentence
–verb (used without object)
1. to exist; continue in existence.
2. to remain alive; live, as on food, resources, etc.
3. to have existence in, or by reason of, something.
4. to reside, lie, or consist (usually fol. by in).
5. Philosophy.
a. to have timeless or abstract existence, as a number, relation, etc.
b. to have existence, esp. independent existence.
–verb (used with object)
6. to provide sustenance or support for; maintain.
Origin:
1540–50; < L subsistere to remain, equiv. to sub- sub- + sistere to stand, make stand; see stand

Related forms:
sub⋅sist⋅ing⋅ly, adverb
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To subsist
sub·sist   (səb-sĭst')   
v.   sub·sist·ed, sub·sist·ing, sub·sists

v.   intr.
    1. To exist; be.
    2. To remain or continue in existence.
  2. To maintain life; live: subsisted on one meal a day.
  3. To be logically conceivable.
v.   tr.
To maintain or support with provisions.

[Latin subsistere, to support : sub-, sub- + sistere, to stand; see stā- in Indo-European roots.]
sub·sist'er n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Subsist

Sub*sist"\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Subsisted; p. pr. & vb. n. Subsisting.] [L. subsistere to stand still, stay, remain alive; sub under + sistere to stand, to cause to stand, from stare to stand: cf. F. subsister. See Stand.]

1. To be; to have existence; to inhere.

And makes what happiness we justly call, Subsist not in the good of one, but all. --Pope.

2. To continue; to retain a certain state.

Firm we subsist, yet possible to swerve. --Milton.

3. To be maintained with food and clothing; to be supported; to live. --Milton.

To subsist on other men's charity. --Atterbury.

Subsist

Sub*sist"\, v. t. To support with provisions; to feed; to maintain; as, to subsist one's family.

He laid waste the adjacent country in order to render it more difficult for the enemy to subsist their army. --Robertson.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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