subsist

Where does the word "subsist" come from? It comes from Latin sistere, passing through Latin before entering English (1500s).

Subsist’s story begins in Latin: sistere meant “to stand, to place.” To stand, to place, combined with sub- (under). Within Latin, it grew into subsistere by ancient. To stand firm, to remain, to survive, from sub- and sistere. It reached English by 1500s as subsist. Settled as the English word for staying alive with minimal resources. Today, subsist means to stay alive or maintain oneself, especially with minimal resources.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient sistere "to stand, to place", to stand, to place, combined with sub- (under).
2. Stage 2 · Latin · ancient subsistere "to stand firm, to remain, to survive", to stand firm, to remain, to survive, from sub- and sistere.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1500s subsist "to stay alive with minimal resources", settled as the English word for staying alive with minimal resources.