subsister
survive
Continuer d'exister malgré le passage du temps ou trouver de quoi manger et boire pour rester en vie.
Definition & meaning
The verb subsister has two primary meanings in French:
- To persist or endure: It refers to something that continues to exist or remains in place despite the passage of time, changes in circumstances, or potential causes of disappearance. It suggests a sense of durability or a trace that stays behind. For example, "des doutes subsistent" means "doubts remain."
- To survive or sustain oneself: It refers to the ability to provide for one's basic physical needs, such as food and shelter. It often describes living with limited means or simply managing to stay alive. For example, "subsister avec un petit salaire" means "to get by on a small salary."
Grammar & Word origin
Grammar:
- It is an intransitive verb belonging to the first group (ending in -er).
- In compound tenses, it always uses the auxiliary verb avoir (e.g., j'ai subsisté).
- The present participle is subsistant and the past participle is subsisté.
Word origin: The word comes from the Latin verb subsistere, which means "to stand still," "to stay," or "to resist." This Latin root is formed from the prefix sub- (meaning "under" or "at the foot of") and the verb sistere (meaning "to cause to stand" or "to stop"). It shares the same root as the English word "subsist."
Synonyms & antonyms
Synonyms:
- To express persistence: exister , demeurer , perdurer , rester , survivre .
- To express sustenance: vivre , s'entretenir , se nourrir .
Antonyms:
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Examples
Peu de plantes peuvent subsister sans eau.verb
Few plants can survive without water.
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