subsistance

plural subsistances

1. archaiccountableuncountableArchaic form of subsistence.

   We existed in Adam, say they, we were a part of his subsistance; we ate the forbidden fruit in Adam, and were condemned for that sin, because it is in fact our own sin.

   1821, James Gray, The Mediatorial Reign of the Son of God; or, The Absolute Ability and Willingness of Jesus Christ to Save All Mankind, Demonstrated from the Scriptures, page 185

   3 more examples

   They did not impart this Deliberation to the Senate, for fear of making it too publick, truſting the Secret with none but Marco Antonio Barbaro, who was detained Priſoner at Conſtantinople: They charged him to underfeel the Grand Vizier, and conclude a Peace upon reaſonable Conditions; and in the mean time they conſulted with the reſt of the Magiſtrates about the Subſiſtance of the Troops for the next Campaign.

   1687, [Antonio Maria Graziani], translated by Robert Midgley, The History of the War of Cyprus. […], London: […] J. Rawlins, and sold by Randal Taylor, […], page 336

   It was the fate of the grenadier company, to which I now belonged, to lie at Rheims, where I found myſelf in the utmoſt want of every thing: My pay, which amounted to five ſols a day, far from ſupplying me with neceſſaries; being ſcarce ſufficient to procure a wretched ſubſiſtance, to keep ſoul and body together; […]

   1748, [Tobias Smollett], chapter XLIV, in The Adventures of Roderick Random. […], volume II, London: […] [William Strahan] for J[ohn] Osborn […], →OCLC, page 69

   […] his Wife alſo, by whom he had had ſeveral Baſtard-Children, left him in his Extremity, and he being without Means or Hopes of outward Subſiſtance in this Iſland, did put up his Name in the Secretary’s Office, but was underwrit for the Sum of ſeven Pounds, which neither his Maſters, whoſe Drudgery he had done, nor his own Purſe, could or would produce that Sum, ſo that, he being therein diſappointed, was glad to go from Houſe to Houſe, till in ſome ſhort Time after he died very poor and miſerable, and had not the fear of Offence to the Living given him a Burial, more than the Goodwill of his Friends, or Ability of his Purſe, he might have remained unburied as a farther Warning to others.

   1753, Joseph Besse, A Collection of the Sufferings of the People Called Quakers, for the Testimony of a Good Conscience, […], volume II, London: […] Luke Hinde, […], page 347