subsist

/səb-ˈsist/

Late Latin subsistere to exist, from Latin, to come to a halt, remain, from sub- + sistere to come to a stand; akin to Latin stare to stand

verb

  1. to have existence : be

  2. persist, continue

  3. to have or acquire the necessities of life (such as food and clothing); especially : to nourish oneself

phrasal verb

  1. to use (something) as a way to stay alive : to live on (something)

poor people subsisting on just one or two dollars a day