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Subsist vs Nourish - What's the difference?

subsist | nourish |

As verbs the difference between subsist and nourish

is that subsist is to survive on a minimum of resources while nourish is to feed and cause to grow; to supply with matter which increases bulk or supplies waste, and promotes health; to furnish with nutriment.

As a noun nourish is

(obsolete) a nurse.

subsist

English

Verb

(en verb)
  • To survive on a minimum of resources.
  • * Atterbury
  • to subsist on other men's charity
  • (mostly, philosophy) To have ontological reality; to exist.
  • * Alexander Pope
  • And makes what happiness we justly call, / Subsist not in the good of one, but all.
  • To continue; to retain a certain state.
  • * Milton
  • Firm we subsist , yet possible to swerve.

    nourish

    English

    Noun

    (es)
  • (obsolete) A nurse.
  • Verb

    (es)
  • To feed and cause to grow; to supply with matter which increases bulk or supplies waste, and promotes health; to furnish with nutriment.
  • * Bible, Is. xliv. 14
  • He planteth an ash, and the rain doth nourish it.
  • To support; to maintain.
  • * Shakespeare
  • I in Ireland nourish a mighty band.
  • To supply the means of support and increase to; to encourage; to foster; as, to nourish rebellion; to nourish the virtues.
  • To cherish; to comfort.
  • * Bible, James v. 5
  • Ye have nourished your hearts.
  • To educate; to instruct; to bring up; to nurture; to promote the growth of in attainments.
  • * Bible, 1 Timothy iv. 6
  • Nourished up in the words of faith.
    (Chaucer)
  • To promote growth; to furnish nutriment.
  • (obsolete) To gain nourishment.
  • (Francis Bacon)

    Derived terms

    * nourishment