Firm we subsist, yet possible to swerve.
Milton.
3. To be maintained with food and clothing; to be supported; to live.
Milton.
To subsist on other men's charity.
Atterbury.
Sub*sist", v. t. 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.
Sub*sist"ence (?), n. [Cf. F. subsistance, L. subsistentia.] 1. Real
being; existence.
Not only the things had subsistence, but the very images were of
some creatures existing.
Stillingfleet.