How Do You Spell SUBSIST?

Pronunciation: [sʌbsˈɪst] (IPA)

Subsist is pronounced /səbˈsɪst/ and is a verb that refers to the act of maintaining oneself by obtaining the basic necessities of life, such as food, water, and shelter. The first syllable is unstressed and pronounced as schwa /ə/, followed by the stressed /sɪst/ syllable. The spelling of subsist can be explained by the Latin origin of the word, sub meaning "under" and sistere meaning "to stand", which combine to form the meaning "to stand under or support oneself".

SUBSIST Meaning and Definition

1. Subsist, a verb, refers to the act of existing, living or surviving with limited resources or means. It implies the ability to maintain oneself or something in a basic or minimal state. The term can be applied to both living beings and non-living things.

   When used to describe the livelihood of individuals or groups, subsist indicates sustaining through meager provisions or in impoverished conditions. It implies surviving on the bare essentials required for survival, such as food, water, and shelter. This term often suggests a tenuous or precarious existence, where individuals or communities barely manage to meet their basic needs.

   In a broader sense, subsist can also pertain to the sustenance of non-living elements, such as systems, organizations, or projects. It highlights the ability to continue functioning or existing, typically with limited or minimal resources. For instance, a small business may subsist by operating with a lean budget and a skeleton staff, ensuring basic operations while not thriving or expanding.

   Subsist also connotes an element of maintaining or enduring under difficult circumstances. It carries an implicit notion of persistence and resilience in the face of adversity. This term often suggests a state of survival, where individuals or entities strive to make do with the available resources, often despite an absence of abundance or surplus.

   Overall, the term subsist captures the idea of survival, endurance, and minimal existence, either for living beings or non-living entities.

2. To retain the present state; to have existence; to live; to have the means of living; to be maintained, as with food and clothing.

   Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.

Common Misspellings for SUBSIST

• subjest
• subsize
• susbsists
• subsity
• subjust
• busist
• subpost
• subgest
• subsised
• sonsist
• subsest
• subsit
• susisn
• saxsist
• suoist
• submist
• sunkist
• Supsist
• subsidth

Etymology of SUBSIST

The word subsist originated from the Latin verb subsistere, which is a combination of the prefix sub (meaning under or below) and the verb sistere (meaning to stand or to stop). In Latin, subsistere meant to continue to exist or to endure. The term was later borrowed into English in the 16th century in the sense of to maintain or support oneself.

Idioms with the word SUBSIST

• subsist on sth The idiom "subsist on sth" means to survive or sustain oneself by consuming or relying on a particular thing or resource, usually in limited quantities or under difficult circumstances. It implies that the person or entity is able to barely meet their basic needs using that specific thing.

Similar spelling words for SUBSIST

• subsister,
• subsystem,
• subsection,
• subsequent.

Conjugate verb Subsist

CONDITIONAL

I would subsist

you would subsist

he/she/it would subsist

we would subsist

they would subsist

CONDITIONAL CONTINUOUS

I would be subsisting

you would be subsisting

he/she/it would be subsisting

we would be subsisting

they would be subsisting

CONDITIONAL PERFECT

I would have subsist

you would have subsist

he/she/it would have subsist

we would have subsist

they would have subsist

CONDITIONAL PERFECT CONTINUOUS

I would have been subsisting

you would have been subsisting

he/she/it would have been subsisting

we would have been subsisting

they would have been subsisting

FUTURE

I will subsist

you will subsist

he/she/it will subsist

we will subsist

they will subsist

FUTURE CONTINUOUS

I will be subsisting

you will be subsisting

he/she/it will be subsisting

we will be subsisting

they will be subsisting

FUTURE PERFECT

I will have subsisted

you will have subsisted

he/she/it will have subsisted

we will have subsisted

they will have subsisted

FUTURE PERFECT CONTINUOUS

I will have been subsisting

you will have been subsisting

he/she/it will have been subsisting

we will have been subsisting

they will have been subsisting

IMPERATIVE

you subsist

we let´s subsist

NONFINITE VERB FORMS

to subsist

PAST

I subsisted

you subsisted

he/she/it subsisted

we subsisted

they subsisted

PAST CONTINUOUS

I was subsisting

you were subsisting

he/she/it was subsisting

we were subsisting

they were subsisting

PAST PARTICIPLE

subsisted

PAST PERFECT

I had subsisted

you had subsisted

he/she/it had subsisted

we had subsisted

they had subsisted

PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS

I had been subsisting

you had been subsisting

he/she/it had been subsisting

we had been subsisting

they had been subsisting

PRESENT

I subsist

you subsist

he/she/it subsists

we subsist

they subsist

PRESENT CONTINUOUS

I am subsisting

you are subsisting

he/she/it is subsisting

we are subsisting

they are subsisting

PRESENT PARTICIPLE

subsisting

PRESENT PERFECT

I have subsisted

you have subsisted

he/she/it has subsisted

we have subsisted

they have subsisted

PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS

I have been subsisting

you have been subsisting

he/she/it has been subsisting

we have been subsisting

they have been subsisting

I would have subsisted

we would have subsisted

you would have subsisted

he/she/it would have subsisted

they would have subsisted