Emily Dickinson Lexicon

SUB-SIST, v.i. [Fr. subsister; It. sussistere; Sp. subsistir; L. subsisto; sub and sisto; to stand, to be fixed.]

1. To be; to have existence; applicable to matter or spirit.
2. To continue; to retain the present state. Firm we subsist, but possible to swerve. – Milton.
3. To live; to be maintained with food and clothing. How many of the human race subsist on the labors of others! How many armies have subsisted on plunder!
4. To inhere; to have existence by means of something else; as, qualities that subsist in substances.