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sussistenza

subsistence

noun soos-sees-TEN-tsah Rare
People & Society Values

Origin: Latin subsistentia, from subsistere 'to stand firm'

Also means

livelihood

Usage Note

Sussistenza refers to the minimum means needed to survive — economia di sussistenza (subsistence economy), mezzi di sussistenza (means of subsistence). It also has a philosophical sense: the existence or reality of something (la sussistenza di un diritto, 'the existence of a right'). This dual meaning (survival vs. existence) can trip up learners relying on context alone.

Examples

"Vivevano di pura sussistenza."

Natural Translation

They lived on pure subsistence.

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