Subsist is to continue to exist or to stay alive.
(verb)See subsist in Webster's New World College Dictionary
intransitive verb
Origin: L subsistere, to stand still, stay, abide < sub-, under + sistere, to place, stand, redupl. of base of stare, to stand
transitive verb
See subsist in American Heritage Dictionary 4
verb sub·sist·ed, sub·sist·ing, sub·sists verb, intransitive
Origin:
Origin: Latin subsistere, to support
Origin: : sub-, sub-
Origin: + sistere, to stand; see stā- in Indo-European roots
.Related Forms:
Learn more about subsist