Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Subsist \Sub*sist"\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Subsisted}; p. pr. &
   vb. n. {Subsisting}.] [L. subsistere to stand still, stay,
   remain alive; sub under + sistere to stand, to cause to
   stand, from stare to stand: cf. F. subsister. See {Stand}.]
   1. To be; to have existence; to inhere.

            And makes what happiness we justly call, Subsist not
            in the good of one, but all.          --Pope.

   2. To continue; to retain a certain state.

            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.

Subsist \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.

Source : WordNet®

subsist
     v : support oneself; "he could barely exist on such a low wage";
         "Can you live on $2000 a month in New York City?"; "Many
         people in the world have to subsist on $1 a day" [syn: {exist},
          {survive}, {live}]