subsist > define

verb

• Support oneself.
  • usage: "he could barely exist on such a low wage"; "Can you live on $2000 a month in New York City"; "Many people in the world have to subsist on $1 a day"
  • synonyms: exist, survive, live

• (v.i.) To be; to have existence; to inhere.
• (v.i.) To continue; to retain a certain state.
• (v.t.) To support with provisions; to feed; to maintain; as, to subsist one's family.
• (v.i.) To be maintained with food and clothing; to be supported; to live.