online medical dictionary | definition of subsist

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)

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. "To subsist on other men's charity." (Atterbury)

Origin: 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.

(01 Mar 1998)