Fragen über die Beispielsätze mit, und die Definition und Benutzung von "Subsist"

A: They subsisted on bread and water. Nothing else.

A: Subsist and survive are mostly the same, however subsist is used most often in casual speech to refer to a diet ("he subsisted on meat alone for 3 months"), whereas survival is used more generally.

Sustain means to continue, which can be similar to survival, but also includes non-living activities ("she was able to sustain that song for 20 minutes").

A: Both mean something like "to be/ have life" but 'subsist' includes the meaning of surviving/ maintaining (life, state, etc.). You usually only hear subsist in survival situations.

Exist:
"What's the largest animal to exist?"
"I don't believe monsters really exist."
"Existing only to stay alive can be difficult."

Subsist:
"Others tried to break them up, but their love subsisted."
"Prisoners were forced to subsist on little food."
"Low class families often have to subsist on government programs."