Subsistence

Part of speech: noun (n.)

1. Real being; existence. Not only the things had subsistence, but the very images were of some creatures existing. Stillingfleet.

2. Inherency; as, the subsistence of qualities in bodies.

3. That which furnishes support to animal life; means of support; provisions, or that which produces provisions; livelihood; as, a meager subsistence. His viceroy could only propose to himself a comfortable subsistence out of the plunder of his province. Addison.

4. Same as Hypostasis, 2. Hooker.