...below the subsistence level...
The standard of living today is on the edge of subsistence.
Many black Namibians are subsistence farmers who live in the arid borderlands.
English dictionary. 2008.
subsistence — sub‧sis‧tence [səbˈsɪstns] noun 1. [uncountable] a small amount of money or food that is just enough to survive on: • Refugees are dependent for subsistence on support from aid agencies. • Unfortunately, these people have become used to living… … Financial and business terms
Subsistence — Sub*sist ence, n. [Cf. F. subsistance, L. subsistentia.] 1. Real being; existence. [1913 Webster] Not only the things had subsistence, but the very images were of some creatures existing. Stillingfleet. [1913 Webster] 2. Inherency; as, the… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
subsistence — (n.) early 15c., existence, independence, from L.L. subsistentia substance, reality, from L. subsistens, prp. of subsistere stand still or firm, from sub under, up to (see SUB (Cf. sub )) + sistere to assume a standing position, from stare to… … Etymology dictionary
subsistence — ► NOUN 1) the action or fact of subsisting. 2) the means of doing this. 3) (before another noun ) referring to production at a level sufficient only for one s own use, without any surplus for trade: subsistence agriculture … English terms dictionary
subsistence — index aid (help), livelihood, maintenance (support of spouse), subsidy, support (assistance), sustenance … Law dictionary
subsistence — *living, livelihood, sustenance, maintenance, support, keep, bread, bread and butter … New Dictionary of Synonyms
subsistence — [n] provisions for survival affluence, aliment, alimentation, bread*, bread and butter*, capital, circumstances, competence, earnings, existence, food, fortune, gratuity, income, independence, keep, legacy, livelihood, living, maintenance, means … New thesaurus
subsistence — [səbsis′təns] n. [ME < LL(Ec) subsistentia < L subsister: see SUBSIST] 1. existence; being; continuance 2. the act of providing sustenance 3. means of support or livelihood; often, specif., the barest means in terms of food, clothing, and… … English World dictionary
subsistence — noun ADJECTIVE ▪ bare, basic SUBSISTENCE + NOUN ▪ agriculture, farming ▪ farmer ▪ economy … Collocations dictionary
subsistence — n. 1) (a) bare, hand to mouth subsistence 2) a means of subsistence * * * [səb sɪst(ə)ns] hand to mouth subsistence (a) bare a means of subsistence … Combinatory dictionary
