Edit page | Page history | Printable version

subsistence

1. Real being; existence. Not only the things had subsistence, but the very images were of some creatures existing. (Stillingfleet)

2. Inherency; as, the subsistence of qualities in bodies.

3. That which furnishes support to animal life; means of support; provisions, or that which produces provisions; livelihood; as, a meager subsistence. His viceroy could only propose to himself a comfortable subsistence out of the plunder of his province. (Addison)

4. Same as hypostasis.

Origin: Cf. F. Subsistance, L. Subsistentia.