subsist — To maintain life by obtaining the basic necessities, especially food. To continue to exist or survive with minimal resources.
Part of speech: VERB
Definition: To maintain life by obtaining the basic necessities, especially food. To continue to exist or survive with minimal resources.
Pronunciation (IPA): /səbˈsɪst/
Example Sentences
- College students often subsist on ramen noodles and energy drinks.
- The hermit subsists on wild berries and stream water.
- My bank account can barely subsist until payday.
subsist
VERB[/səbˈsɪst/]
To maintain life by obtaining the basic necessities, especially food. To continue to exist or survive with minimal resources.
To maintain life by obtaining the basic necessities, especially food. To continue to exist or survive with minimal resources.
To subsist, he must persist and resist!
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
From Latin 'subsistere' meaning 'to stand firm' or 'to remain in place.' The word originally conveyed the idea of standing underneath or holding one's ground, which evolved into the modern meaning of maintaining existence or surviving.
Breakdown
sub- (under/below) + sist- (to stand/remain) + -ence (noun suffix for the related noun 'subsistence')
🎵Rhyme
📝Examples
“College students often subsist on ramen noodles and energy drinks.”
“The hermit subsists on wild berries and stream water.”
“My bank account can barely subsist until payday.”
“Many rural families subsist through subsistence agriculture.”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
Antonyms
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