See Also: exist(medicine)
exist(dictionary)
pre-exist(dictionary)
re-exist(dictionary)
exist(dictionary)
post-exist(dictionary)

exist (iou)



exist verb intrans. E17.
[Prob. back-form. from EXISTENCE. Cf. Latin ex(s)istere emerge, present oneself, come into being, (in late Latin) be (aux.), formed as EX-1 1 + sistere take a stand.]
Have objective reality or being. E17.
J. S. Mill The man called father might still exist though there were no child. G. Saintsbury Plays..formed a large..part of such literary pastime as existed.
Have being in a specified place or form or under specified conditions. Of a relation, circumstance, etc.: be found, subsist. (Foll. by adverbial phr., as, noun or adjective compl.) E17.
N. Arnott Which substances..usually exist as airs. R. H. Mottram There was a stronger link between them than existed with the others of the family. G. Orwell Similar slits existed in thousands..throughout the building. P. W. Atkins Ice-VII..exists only when the pressure exceeds 25000 atm.
Continue alive or in being; maintain existence. Also, live, esp. under adverse conditions. L18.
V. Brittain Love still existed..in a world dominated by winter and death. N. Shute If the Geiger counter was correct, no life could exist there for more than a few days. R. P. Graves He would just be able to exist on his salary.
exister noun (rare) L19.
existing ppl adjective that exists; esp. that exists now or existed at the time in question, current: M18.