Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “subsist” come from?

Subsist comes from Latin subsisto, formed from Latin sub (under) and the root steh₂- (to stand) via Proto-Indo-European, ultimately tracing to Proto-Indo-European h₃ewp-.

subsist (English): To survive on a minimum of resources; To have...

Definitions

  1. To survive on a minimum of resources; To have...

Ancestry of “subsist”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Latinsubsistō—
2Latinsistō—
3Proto-Italicsistōstand; place
4Proto-Indo-Europeanstísteh₂tito be standing up, to be getting up
5Proto-Indo-Europeansteh₂-to stand

Words derived from “subsist”

  • subsister
Every word from Proto-Indo-European steh₂- →