subsist
UK/səb'sɪst/US/sәb'sist/
TOEFLGREC2
Definitions
v.
To stay alive, especially with limited food or resources; to survive at a basic level
（靠最低限度资源）维持生活，勉强活着
Root Breakdown
Root-derivedsub- (under, from below) + sist 'stand' = to 'stand from underneath,' to hold yourself up from below — to keep going at a minimal level. To subsist on rice is to stay alive on rice alone.
Root st still carries 376 more wordsCommon Collocations
- 1.subsist on靠……维生
- 2.barely subsist勉强维持生计
- 3.subsistence farming自给农业
Example Sentences
- 1.
Many families subsist on less than a dollar a day.
- 2.
The survivors subsisted on rainwater and wild berries.
- 3.
It is hard to subsist on such a small income.