subsistence
noun/səbˈsɪstəns/
Etymology From Middle English subsistence; partly from Middle French subsistence (modern French subsistance) and partly from its etymon Late Latin subsistentia (“substance, reality, in Medieval Latin also stability”), from Latin subsistēns, present participle of subsistere (“to continue, subsist”). Perhaps also partly from subsist + -ence.
1
Real being; existence.
- the human nature loseth its proper subsistence , and is assumed into the subsistence of the divine nature1686, Edward Stillingfleet, the Doctrines and Practices of the Church of Rome:
2
The act of maintaining oneself at a minimum level.
3
Inherency.
- the subsistence of qualities in bodies
4
Something (food, water, money, etc.) that is required to stay alive.
- In the general course of human nature, a power over a man's subsistence amounts to a power over his will.1788, Alexander Hamilton, The Federalist, Dawson, Federalist 79, page 548:
- His viceroy could only propose to himself a comfortable subsistence out of the plunder of his province.1716 February 2 (Gregorian calendar), Joseph Addison, “The Free-holder: No. 10. Sunday, January 23. [1716.]”, in The Works of the Right Honourable Joseph Addison, Esq; […], volume IV, London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], published 1721, →OCLC:
- Synonyms
- sustenance, hypostasis
- Derived terms
- consubsistence, nonsubsistence, subsistence crop, subsistence economy, subsistence farming, subsistence level, subsistential
- Related terms
- subsist, subsistent