[ad. L. subsistĕre to stand still, stand firm, cease, be adequate to, support, f. sub- SUB- 25 + sistĕre to stand (see SIST v.). Cf. F. subsister, It. sossistere, sussistere, Sp., Pg. subsistir.]
I. 1. intr. To have an existence as a reality; to exist as a substance or entity. (Cf. SUBSISTENCE 1.)
1549. Bk. Com. Prayer, Quicunque vult, Perfecte God, and perfecte man: of a resonable soule, and humayne fleshe subsisting.
1678. Cudworth, Intell. Syst., I. iv. 499. Those Ideas, which Plato sometimes contends to be Substances, and to subsist alone by themselves.
1693. Bentley, Boyle Lect., vi. 197. Matter abstractly consider’d cannot have subsisted eternally.
1707. Norris, Ideal World, I. iii. 145. That God is being itself subsisting by itself.
1847. Emerson, Poems, 18. The young deities discussed … What subsisteth, and what seems.
1874. Geo. Eliot, Coll. Breakf.-P., 370. Define your Good … Next, how it may subsist without the Ill Which seems its only outline.
2. To have its being or existence in a certain manner, form, or state, or by a certain condition. Obs. or arch.
1594. Hooker, Eccl. Pol., I. ii. § 2. In which essentiall vnitie of God a Trinitie personall neuerthelesse subsisteth.
1614. Raleigh, Hist. World, V. i. § 4. 331. The one [sc. cavalry] subsisting, by being at large; the other [sc. infantry], by close imbattailing.
1634. Milton, Comus, 686. The unexempt condition By which all mortal frailty must subsist.
1649. J. Ellistone, trans. Behmen’s Epist. (1886), Pref. 7. All things proceed from God, subsist in God.
1684. Contempl. St. Man, I. i. (1699), 2. The being of Time consists only of a succession of Instants … subsisting only by a flux of Moments.
1732. Pope, Ess. Man, I. 169. All subsists by elemental strife; And Passions are the elements of Life.
1784. Cowper, Task, I. 367. By ceaseless action all that is subsists.
3. † a. Philos. To exist in a substance or in accidents. Obs.
1599. Sir J. Davies, Nosce Teipsum, II. III. viii. If she were but the bodies accident, And her sole being did in it subsist, As white in snow.
1678. Gale, Crt. Gentiles, IV. III. 5. The wise Creator … has … so constituted al moral Beings, both Virtues and Vices, as that they cannot subsist but in something natural.
1690. Locke, Hum. Und., II. xxiii. § 1. Not imagining how these simple Ideas can subsist by themselves, we accustom our selves, to suppose some Substratum, wherein they do subsist.
1686. South, Serm., Isa v. 20 (1727), II. 345. When they [sc. qualities] come to subsist in Particulars, and to be cloathed, and attended with several Accidents.
1821. Coleridge, in Blackw. Mag., X. 219/2. The disciple of Malbranche, or of Berkeley, [affirms] that the objective subsists wholly and solely in the universal subject—God.
b. gen. To consist, lie or reside in some specified thing, circumstance, fact, etc.
1633. G. Herbert, Temple, Sacrifice, lvii. Your safetie in my sicknesse doth subsist.
1662. J. Davies, trans. Mandelslo’s Trav., 278. It subsists only in the opinion where with most sea-men are prepossessed, that, certainly there is an Island in those parts.
1707. Fountainhall, Decis. (1759), II. 385. It [sc. a collegium] can subsist and continue in one.
1732. Pope, Ess. Man, IV. 38. The Universal Cause … makes what Happiness we justly call Subsist not in the good of one, but all.
1741. Warburton, Div. Legat., II. II. 371. For the one God being the supreme Magistrate, it [sc. theocracy] subsisted in the Worship of that God alone.
1784. Cowper, Tiroc., 390. His wealth, fame, honours, all that I intend, Subsist and centre in one point—a friend!
1882. Coues, Biogen (1884), 60. If there be no chemical or physical difference [between a live amœba and a dead one], in what does the great difference subsist?
† c. To consist of. Obs. rare.
1631. Brathwait, Whimzies, Pedler, 139. Would you have a true survey of his family and number them by the pole? you shall finde them subsist of three heads: himselfe, his truck, and her misset.
4. To preserve its existence or continue to exist; to remain in existence, use or force.
c. 1600. Shaks., Sonn., cxxii. 6. So long as braine and heart Haue facultie by nature to subsist.
1662. Stillingfl., Orig. Sacræ, III. i. § 1. The souls of men are capable of subsisting after death.
a. 1715. Burnet, Own Time, III. (1724), I. 517. All ecclesiastical Courts subsisted now by this test only upon the King’s permission.
1734. trans. Rollin’s Anc. Hist. (1768), I. p. lvii. The equivocality … will not subsist in a translation.
1746. Hervey, Medit. (1818), 9. The exercises of gratitude subsisted in paradise.
1752. trans. Rameau’s Treat. Musick, 115. As soon as a Discord can be prepared, the Syncope no longer subsists.
1762. T. Mortimer, Ev. Man own Broker (ed. 5), 59. The extensive scene of Jobbing, which has subsisted during the present war.
1794. S. Williams, Vermont, 161. The murders of the inquisition subsisted for centuries.
1811. Jane Austen, Sense & Sensib., xlv. His regard for her … has subsisted through all the knowledge of dear Marianne’s unhappy prepossession for that worthless young man!
1813. Prichard, Phys. Hist. Man, vi. § 6. 311. The custom of eating their prisoners of war still subsists in the central parts of the island of Celebes.
1876. Gladstone, Homeric Synchr., 189. He found that tradition subsisting among them.
1911. Act 1 & 2 Geo. V., c. 46 § 3. The term for which copyright shall subsist shall … be the life of the author and a period of fifty years after his death.
b. of physical things. Now rare.
1621. T. Williamson, trans. Goulart’s Wise Vieillard, 2. Adam and all his posteritie had subsisted and continued long vpon earth.
1740. Chesterf., Lett., xciii. Which charter subsists to this day, and is called Magna Charta.
1772. Wesley, Jrnl., 1 Feb. (1827), III. 439. Only the old chapel subsists.
1774. Goldsm., Nat. Hist. (1862), I. vi. 30. Where men and animals have long subsisted.
1819. Shelley, Lett., Pr. Wks. 1888, II. 285. The central arch … yet subsists.
1903. F. W. H. Myers, Hum. Pers., I. 244. The book, of course, subsists; it can be found in many libraries.
† c. To continue in a condition or position; to remain (so-and-so). Obs.
1607. Shaks., Cor., V. vi. 73. I am return’d your Souldier:… still subsisting Vnder your great Command.
1633. P. Fletcher, Purple Isl., II. xix. The wandring heat (which quiet ne’re subsisteth).
1650. G. Campbell, in Thanes of Cawdor (Spalding Cl.), 293. Commending yow and your bedfellow to the Lord, I subsist your loving freind Geo. Campbell.
† 5. Of physical objects: To be or live in a certain place or state. Obs.
1655. Stanley, Hist. Philos., II. ii. (1687), 65/2. The Sea subsists upon the superficies of the Earth, which is flat.
1667. Milton, P. L., X. 922. Forlorn of thee, Whither shall I betake me, where subsist?
a. 1716. Blackall, Wks. (1723), I. 97. A private Man may be consider’d … as a single Man subsisting by himself.
1813. W. Taylor, Engl. Syn. (1856), 284. That is aquatile, which subsists in water.
6. Of a condition or quality: To exist.
1729. Col. Rec. Pennsylv., III. 362. That there should never any Uneasiness subsist between us.
1759. Johnson, in Boswell (1831), I. 327. You have from me all the regard that can possibly subsist in the heart.
1777. Watson, Philip II., x. (1793), I. 422. Granted upon a condition which did not yet subsist.
1855. Prescott, Philip II., II. vi. I. 205. The best possible understanding seems to have subsisted between them.
II. † 7. To make a stand, stand firm, hold out.
1643. Cromwell, in Lett. & Sp. (1850), I. xv. 219. Make them able to live and subsist.
a. 1662. Heylin, Laud, I. (1668), 162. If he cannot subsist, there is little or nothing left to hinder the House of Austria from being … Master of Germany.
1667. Milton, P. L., IX. 359. Firm we subsist, yet possible to swerve. Ibid. (1671), P. R., III. 19. All the world Could not sustain thy Prowess, or subsist In battel.
1726. Cavallier, Mem., IV. 290. There I gave Ravenal necessary Instructions either to avoid meeting the Enemy, or to subsist.
† b. To keep on, persevere. Obs.
1632. Lithgow, Trav., viii. 372. He succumb’d, and could not subsist, not beeing vsed to pedestriall trauayle.
† 8. To stand, hold good. Obs. rare.
1747. J. Howe, Lett. to S. Thompson, 11 Sept. If this story subsists, I presume orders will be given.
† 9. To cease, stop at a certain point. Obs.
a. 1637. Spottiswood, Hist. Ch. Scot., VI. (1677), 403. Nor did their folly, or madness rather, subsist here.
a. 1687. R. McWard, Earnest Contend. for Faith (1723), 41 (Jam.). Here, at this Time, I shall subsist, since I will have Occasion to speak to this Matter afterward. Ibid., 227. I might here subsist. But … I shall append … these few Things.
III. 10. trans. To provide sustenance for; to support or maintain with provisions or funds; to maintain, support, keep: said of provisions, funds, etc., or of the persons dispensing them.
a. 1683. Sidney, Disc. Gov., II. xxvi. (1704), 187. Taking from them all ways of subsisting their Familys.
1698. Froger, Voy., 158. The Free-booters had contributed very much to subsist them for the first Years of the War.
1710. Addison, Tatler, No. 119, ¶ 2. We descry millions of species subsisted on a green leaf.
1725. Berkeley, Lett., 16 July. When I accepted the Deanry it was not with any view of subsisting the College in Bermuda with its Income.
1725. Bradley’s Fam. Dict., s.v. Breeding of Milk, A Cow, when she … has not Milk enough to subsist her Calf.
1749. Fielding, Tom Jones, XV. xi. To be subsisted at her Expence from that little Fortune she had independent of her Father.
1854. Blackw. Mag., LXXVI. 1/2. Energetic, but humble men, living in log-huts, and cultivating just as much land as would subsist them.
1879. H. George, Progr. & Pov., I. v. (1881), 78. We have seen that capital does not advance wages or subsist labourers, but that its functions are to assist labour.
1901. P. Fountain, Deserts N. Amer., x. 235. You can subsist them [sc. mules] … in a country where you could not find food for horses.
b. To maintain, provide for, provision (troops). Also formerly, to give pay or allowance (1802 C. James, Milit. Dict.).
1687. T. Brown, Saints in Uproar, Wks. 1730, I. 78. Explain to him after what manner you subsisted your cloven regiment.
1704. Lond. Gaz., No. 4045/3. The Charge of Subsisting these Officers and Men must be very great.
1799. Harris, in Owen, Wellesley’s Desp. (1877), 120. We have a sufficient stock of provisions to subsist the troops.
1863. Mendell & Craighill trans. Jomini’s Art of War, iii. 77–8. A French army upon the Elbe might be subsisted from Westphalia or Franconia, but its real base would certainly be upon the Rhine.
1898. Mahan, Nelson, II. 241. If France … was … subsisting an army corps upon Neapolitan territory.
refl. 1810. G. Rose, Diaries (1860), II. 456. Massena cannot long subsist himself in his position.
1841. Catlin, N. Amer. Ind. (1844), II. 39. The troops will be obliged to subsist themselves.
11. To maintain or support oneself; to live upon food or money, or by a particular occupation.
a. intr. (Also fig.)
1646. Sir T. Browne, Pseud. Ep., I. vii. 26. Whose argument is but precarious and subsists upon the charity of our assentments.
1647. Clarendon, Hist. Reb., I. § 162. Ireland … reduced to that good degree of Husbandry … that it not only Subsisted of itself … but really increased the Revenue of the Crown.
1672. in Verney Mem. (1907), II. 355. I have not wherewithall to subsist.
1777. Sir W. Jones, Ess., i. Poems 189. Our European poetry has subsisted too long on the perpetual repetition of the same images.
1830. M. Donovan, Dom. Econ., II. 291. Animals which subsist upon vegetables.
1865. Dickens, Mut. Fr., I. iv. Their forefathers had … modestly subsisted on the Docks.
1885. Encycl. Brit., XIX. 255/2. From that time he subsisted by literature.
b. refl.
1719. De Foe, Crusoe, II. (Globe), 556. He said no Pecune to carry him thither, or to subsist himself when he came there.
1756. Burke, Vind. Nat. Soc., 58. The people … began to subsist themselves from the publick Revenues.
a. 1806. Horsley, Serm. (1811), 215. An idle peasantry subsist themselves by theft and violence.
1841. Catlin, N. Amer. Ind., xx. (1844), I. 142. The horses … subsist themselves, in winter and summer over the vast plains of prairie.
† 12. intr. To support life, keep alive, live. Obs.
1727. Swift, Petit. Colliers, Wks. 1755, III. I. 130. Should it happen … that this city should be deprived of the sunbeams for several months; how will his majesty’s subjects subsist?
1775. Johnson, Tax. no Tyr., 29. The body may subsist, though less commodiously, without a limb.
1784. Cowper, Task, V. 79. How find the myriads … Due sustenance, or where subsist they now?
1794. S. Williams, Vermont, 388. Several colonies of white people have subsisted in the torrid zone of America.
b. Hyperbolically, with a negative expressed or implied.
1756. Mrs. Calderwood, in Coltness Collect. (Maitland Club), 204. Hussy could not subsist without cards.
1758. Johnson, Idler, No. 7, ¶ 2. It is difficult to conceive how man can subsist without a News-paper.
† 13. trans. a. To carry on, keep up. Obs.
1633. T. Stafford, Pac. Hib., II. xxv. 254. The contents of the Letters, were to pray Aides to subsist the warre.
† b. To keep life in. Obs.
1716. Phil. Trans., XXIX. 493. It cannot be believed that a Supply, by this means obtained, can long subsist a Diver.
