A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 2001 (DOST Vol. X).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1547, 1632-1686
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Subsist, v. [e.m.E. subsist (1549), F. subsister (1541), L. subsistere.]
1. tr. To maintain, support (a person) with provisions or funds; to subsidise. 1547 Commiss. Records of Glasgow in Origines Parochiales I 56.
That his executors subsist ane preyst for ane yeir, to syng mes for his saule
2. intr. To continue, persevere; to maintain or support oneself. 1632 Lithgow Trav. viii 372.
He succumb'd, and could not subsist, not beeing vsed to pedestriall travayle a1652 Dickson Psalms I 186.
Faith … holds up his heart in his duty, till the Lord send an out-gate, wherein he were not able to subsist otherwise 1686 Kingarth Par. Rec. 151.
John McKinlay, scholmaster, complaind … that he cannot be to subsist or live … by reason severalls in the parish refuse to pay him the school dues
b. In the concluding sentiments of a letter. 1650 Thanes of Cawdor 293.
I subsist your loving freind Geo. Campbell
3. To stop, cease, desist. a1639 Spotsw. Hist. (1677) 403.
Nor did their folly, or madness rather, subsist here c1680 McWard Contendings 41.
Here, at this time, I shall subsist, since I will have occasion to speak to this matter afterward c1680 McWard Contendings 227.
I might here subsist. But … I shall append … these few things
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"Subsist v.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 16 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/subsist>
